The Knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral hygiene among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Introduction Oral health during pregnancy is a critical component of maternal and child health due to its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of periodontal disease and related complications, yet materna...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Orapuh, Inc.
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Orapuh Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.orapuh.org/ojs/index.php/orapj/article/view/432 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Introduction
Oral health during pregnancy is a critical component of maternal and child health due to its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of periodontal disease and related complications, yet maternal oral health remains underemphasized in antenatal care in many parts of Nigeria.
Purpose
This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of oral hygiene among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 171 pregnant women recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a validated, structured questionnaire and analysed with SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, while Pearson correlation examined associations between KAP scores.
Results
Most respondents (69.6%) had moderate knowledge of oral hygiene, and attitudes were generally positive (mean score = 3.78). However, practices were suboptimal, with low mean scores for brushing twice daily (2.91) and use of dental floss (2.83). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between knowledge and attitude (r = .43, p < .001), knowledge and practice (r = .39, p < .001), and attitude and practice (r = .41, p < .001).
Conclusion
Although pregnant women demonstrated moderate knowledge and favourable attitudes toward oral hygiene, their practices did not align. Integrating oral health education into antenatal care and strengthening community-based oral health promotion initiatives are recommended to improve maternal oral health outcomes in the study setting.
|
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2644-3740 |