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Self-reported oral health, oral hygiene habits, and dental attendance of pregnant women in Kuwait
Article first published online: 16 MAY 2005
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00770.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Honkala, S. and Al-Ansari, J. (2005), Self-reported oral health, oral hygiene habits, and dental attendance of pregnant women in Kuwait. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 32: 809–814. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00770.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 21 JUN 2005
- Article first published online: 16 MAY 2005
- Accepted for publication 10 January 2005
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Keywords:
- dental attendance;
- oral hygiene habits;
- perceived oral health;
- pregnancy
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe self-reported oral health, oral hygiene habits, and frequency of visits to a dentist among pregnant women in Kuwait.
Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study with an anonymous structured questionnaire was distributed among 650 pregnant women during May–June 2003, when they were admitted to the maternity ward at the largest government maternity hospital in Kuwait City. The response rate was 93% (n=603).
Results: Every fourth respondent was in her first pregnancy, while 36% already had three or more children. Every fifth woman felt that her oral health was poor, and one-third of the women believed that they had periodontal problems currently. About two-thirds of the women were brushing more than once a day and almost all (94%) at least once a day. Over the previous 6 months, 40% had experienced dental pain. Half of the women had visited a dentist during pregnancy, mostly for dental pain. Most of the women had received no instructions concerning oral health care during their pregnancy.
Conclusions: A large proportion of the pregnant women in this study had oral health problems; however, half of the women had not seen a dentist during their pregnancy.