IADR Abstract Archives
Evaluating Perceived Sensitivity to and Severity of Oral diseases in Pregnant Women
Objectives: According to health belief model, perceived sensitivity to and severity of a disease play important roles in adopting preventive health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceived sensitivity to and severity of oral diseases in pregnant women and determine associating demographic factors.
Methods: Totally, 252 pregnant women who attended the public health centers in Tehran entered the study using cluster random sampling method in 2016. Study questionnaire included items on perceived sensitivity (n=10), severity (n=7) and demographics such as age, education, income, etc. Descriptive analyzes and linear regression were applied in SPSS version 24 for statistical analysis.
Results: Of 221 completed questionnaires (completeness rate=87.7%), the mean age of participants was 27.8 ± 5.6 years and the mean gestational age was 21.5 ± 8.6 weeks. The average perceived sensitivity score of pregnant women was 40.62 (SD = 9.23) of the maximum achievable of 50, the average perceived severity score was 28.01 (SD = 7.14) of 35. About 41% of pregnant women believed that the risk of gum disease was higher during pregnancy and about 58% of pregnant women believed that maternal tooth decay during pregnancy would increase the child's vulnerability to future caries. Higher educated women believed to be more sensitive to oral diseases during pregnancy (P-value = 0.016). Those with lower income level (P-Value = 0.004) and older ages (P-Value = 0.029) perceived more severity about oral diseases.
Conclusions: The present pregnant women perceived high level of severity and susceptibility to oral diseases. This casts light on their preparedness to receive basic oral health instructions and improving their oral health care skills by developing more intensive oral health interventions for susceptible high-risk groups.
Methods: Totally, 252 pregnant women who attended the public health centers in Tehran entered the study using cluster random sampling method in 2016. Study questionnaire included items on perceived sensitivity (n=10), severity (n=7) and demographics such as age, education, income, etc. Descriptive analyzes and linear regression were applied in SPSS version 24 for statistical analysis.
Results: Of 221 completed questionnaires (completeness rate=87.7%), the mean age of participants was 27.8 ± 5.6 years and the mean gestational age was 21.5 ± 8.6 weeks. The average perceived sensitivity score of pregnant women was 40.62 (SD = 9.23) of the maximum achievable of 50, the average perceived severity score was 28.01 (SD = 7.14) of 35. About 41% of pregnant women believed that the risk of gum disease was higher during pregnancy and about 58% of pregnant women believed that maternal tooth decay during pregnancy would increase the child's vulnerability to future caries. Higher educated women believed to be more sensitive to oral diseases during pregnancy (P-value = 0.016). Those with lower income level (P-Value = 0.004) and older ages (P-Value = 0.029) perceived more severity about oral diseases.
Conclusions: The present pregnant women perceived high level of severity and susceptibility to oral diseases. This casts light on their preparedness to receive basic oral health instructions and improving their oral health care skills by developing more intensive oral health interventions for susceptible high-risk groups.