Kamalabadi Yasaman Mohammadi, Campbell M Karen, Gratton Robert, Jessani Abbas
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
Int Dent J. 2025 Apr;75(2):524-536. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2024.07.009. Epub 2024 Sep 12.
Oral health conditions during pregnancy can negatively impact both mother and fetus, highlighting the importance of maintaining dental care. In Canada, significant disparities exist between general and dental healthcare access, with limited evidence on oral health status and dental care utilisation among pregnant women. This study aimed to provide initial insights into self-perceived oral health status and dental utilisation patterns among a vulnerable sample of pregnant women in southwestern Ontario.
This cross-sectional study recruited a convenient sample of pregnant women referred to the Family Medicine and Obstetrics Clinic, serving those without a family physician. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Canadian Health Measure Survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey, and the Survey of Maternal Health. Andersen and Newman's framework for health service utilisation was used as the theoretical framework. Descriptive and univariable analyses were conducted, followed by a forward stepwise selection of variables with p-values < 0.1 from the univariable analyses.
One-hundred-fifty patients were approached and 130 (86.7%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 96 (73.9%) reported their oral health as good/excellent while 34 (26.2%) reported having poor/fair oral health. Education level and quality of life were the strongest predictors of oral health status. While 101 (77.7%) visited a dentist within the last 2 years, only 35 (26.9%) had a dental visit during pregnancy. Toothbrushing frequency was the main predictor of time since last dental visit, with no other predictive factors once toothbrushing was considered.
The study sample showed relatively positive self-perceived oral health and dental visit patterns. However, the low rate of dental visits during pregnancy highlights the need for better integration of dental care into prenatal care. To ensure maternal and child health, pregnant women should be a high priority in policies aimed at improving access to dental care.
孕期的口腔健康状况会对母亲和胎儿产生负面影响，这凸显了保持口腔护理的重要性。在加拿大，普通医疗保健与牙科医疗保健的可及性存在显著差异，关于孕妇口腔健康状况和牙科护理利用情况的证据有限。本研究旨在初步了解安大略省西南部弱势孕妇样本的自我感知口腔健康状况和牙科利用模式。
本横断面研究招募了一个方便样本，即被转介到家庭医学与妇产科诊所的孕妇，这些孕妇没有家庭医生。数据通过一份根据加拿大健康测量调查、加拿大社区健康调查和孕产妇健康调查改编的自填问卷收集。采用安德森和纽曼的卫生服务利用框架作为理论框架。进行了描述性和单变量分析，随后从单变量分析中对p值<0.1的变量进行向前逐步选择。
共接触了150名患者，130名（86.7%）完成了问卷。其中，96名（73.9%）报告其口腔健康状况良好/极佳，而34名（26.2%）报告口腔健康状况较差/一般。教育水平和生活质量是口腔健康状况的最强预测因素。虽然101名（77.7%）在过去2年内看过牙医，但只有35名（26.9%）在孕期看过牙医。刷牙频率是距离上次看牙医时间的主要预测因素，一旦考虑刷牙因素，没有其他预测因素。
研究样本显示出相对积极的自我感知口腔健康和看牙模式。然而，孕期看牙率较低凸显了将牙科护理更好地纳入产前护理的必要性。为确保母婴健康，在旨在改善牙科护理可及性的政策中，孕妇应被列为高度优先对象。
