Oral health-related pregnant women’s social representation

Objective: comprehend pregnant women's social representation related to their own oral health. Method: this is a qualitative study. Twelve pregnant women from different socio economic classes engaged in pre natal care services were individually interviewed using a semi structured protocol. The interviews were analyzed from the perspective of the Social Representations Theory (Moscovici, 1961). Results: Oral health is understood as an indivisible part of general health, represented by the esthetics of a social acceptable smile, the carrying with the teeth and the non-occurrence of pain, disease and bad breath. The mothers are considered the main promoters of oral health knowledge, based mainly on the compulsory tooth brushing. Cavities are understood only as a result of lack of individual care. Self-care is restricted to routine tooth brushing. It is believed that dental consults must start at childhood but the importance of this precocity is unknown, since its role is assumed to be only curative. Seeking for a dental visit is motivated by pain or visual detected problems. The public health's dental assistance is believed to have a difficult access, limited offer of treatment modalities and to be long lasting. The private dental care is considered expensive but easily reachable. Conclusion: Considering its historical and social context, the understanding of these social representations can provide an intimacy with the socially constructed reality, adding expertise to professionals on health education.