Challenges in oral health referral during pregnancy: perspectives from antenatal and dental care providers.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to referrals for oral lesions from the perspectives of antenatal care providers and dentists, as well as the frequency of referrals to dental clinics at the same facility.

METHODS

A mixed-method study was conducted in the Gynaecology, Obstetrics, and Dental Departments of one public-sector and one private hospital from October 2024 to January 2025.The study included antenatal care and dental care providers and utilized purposive sampling. Two structured questionnaires, validated through a pilot study, were administered via Google Forms. Ethical approval was obtained, and confidentiality was maintained. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, and incomplete responses were excluded. Descriptive statistics were performed for numerical data, while thematic analysis was conducted for open-ended responses.

RESULTS

A total of 30 participants took part in the study, including 5 from a private hospital and 25 from a public-sector hospital, further divided into 17 dentists and 13 antenatal care providers. The majority (69.2%) of ANC workers had knowledge of oral lesions during pregnancy, yet only 53.8% provided awareness to pregnant women. The most common oral lesion was gum bleeding (20.5%), whereas the key challenge in treatment included a lack of guidelines (34.5%). A total of 61.5% of the participants incorporated oral health checkups into their medical history, and 84.6% collaborated with other health professionals. Additionally, recurrence, time constraints, and superstitious beliefs pose challenges for healthcare providers.

CONCLUSION

Despite awareness, gaps exist in knowledge, patient education, and systemic support. Integrating oral health screening into maternal care and improving collaboration may enhance patient outcomes. Poor periodontal health has been linked to low birth weight, preterm delivery, and preeclampsia.