Open AccessA Cross-Sectional Analysis of Dental Care Utilization Among Pregnant Women in Saudi Arabia
Author(s) -
Zainab Albasry,
Bayan Alhaddad,
Mashael Abdullah Benrashed,
Asim AlAnsari,
Muhammad Ashraf Nazir
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
open access macedonian journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.288
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 1857-9655
DOI - 10.3889/oamjms.2019.870
Subject(s) - medicine , cross sectional study , attendance , logistic regression , pregnancy , family medicine , dental care , odds ratio , oral health , dentistry , pathology , biology , economics , genetics , economic growth
BACKGROUND: Oral and systemic problems are common among pregnant women. Routine dental visits are important for the maintenance of optimal oral health which is linked with systemic health.
AIM: To evaluate dental care utilization and related factors among pregnant women in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals and healthcare centers in the cities of Khobar, Dammam, and Qatif in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A piloted tested self-administered questionnaire available in Arabic and English languages was distributed among a calculated sample of 341 pregnant women. Pearson's chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
RESULTS: In the study, 270 questionnaires were analyzed giving a response rate of 79.2%. Mean age of the participants was 29 ± 5.9 years. There were 43.7% pregnant women who received dental treatment when they have a dental problem and only 13.7% performed routine dental visit. Half the sample (52.6%) avoided dental visits during pregnancy and dental treatment being unsafe was the most common reason for avoiding dental visits. After adjustment, routine dental visits during pregnancy were 7.38 times higher among Saudis compared with non-Saudis women (p 0.05). The participants who had a negative perception about the safety of dental treatment had significantly lower odds (OR 0.31, p 0.036) of dental attendance for routine dental visits.
CONCLUSION: Routine dental visits were low among pregnant women and many visited dentists when they had a dental problem. Negative perception about the safety of dental treatment was associated with reduced regular dental visits during pregnancy. Pregnant women should be educated about the importance of receiving dental care for the maintenance of optimal oral health.