2024/07/13 by Adam, Vincent Yakubu, Okeigbemen, Sunny Ajimen, Osagie, Osamwonyi +1
#Antenatal #Oral hygiene #Pregnant women #Public Health #Secondary health facilities.
paper · doi:10.60787/tnhj.v17i1.262
Introduction: Dental care in pregnancy aims at achieving healthy environment through adequate plaque and professional dental prophylaxis.This study assessed the knowledge, attitude towards and practice of oral hygiene among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in secondary health facilities in Benin City, Nigeria. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among antenatal clients in the two state-owned secondary health facilities in Benin City, Nigeria, using multistage sampling technique. Structured, interviewer administered questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Scientific Solutions. Results: The mean age of respondents was 29.3(± 4.7) years, with majority in the age group of 25-29 years. Over three-quarters of respondents, 228 (83.2%) were aware of oral hygiene, 192 (84.2%) practiced tooth brushing while chewing xylitol gums was used by 23.2%. Halitosis was the most identified form of poor oral hygiene, 177 (77.6%). Over half 54.4%of the women had poor knowledge of oral hygiene. Respondents' socio-economic profiles were associated with knowledge of/attitude towards oral hygiene respectively. Also, the association between knowledge of/attitude towards oral hygiene and the practice of oral hygiene were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Though the respondents had poor knowledge of oral hygiene, there was a positive attitude and good practice of oral hygiene in the study locale. There is a need for education on oral hygiene to pregnant in the antenatal clinics as means of improving knowledge and preventing oral pathologies in pregnancy and its ensuing implication to the women and the community as a whole.