Socioeconomic Status and Expectant Mothers' Infant Oral Health Awareness

Materials and Methods: Questionnaires with 15 questions on IOH and multiple choice answers were distributed to 230 expectant mothers at a private maternity clinic in Kuwait. Answers were structured so that some were consistent with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommendations on IOH. The questionnaire also included demographic questions about education and income level. Responses were rated as either consistent or inconsistent with the referenced recommendations. We planned to rate knowledge as very high if >95% of the answers were correct, as adequate if 75-95% were correct, and as inadequate if <75% were correct. Correlations between income, education and knowledge were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: The return rate was 87% (n=200.) The majority of participants were Kuwaiti mothers, 20-29 years of age, with 0-2 children and income >59.000 $/year. Percentages of correct answers ranged from 5-72%, indicating that participants' knowledge was inadequate in all tested IOH related areas. There was no correlation between knowledge level and education or household income. The range of income was narrow, so the lack of correlation wasn't surprising.

Conclusions: IOH knowledge in this middle class cohort was inadequate in our sample of expectant mothers in Kuwait, regardless of education. The lack of association between education and knowledge may suggest that accurate IOH knowledge isn't part of the cultural background of women in Kuwait. More effective methods of educating mothers in Kuwait may be necessary.

Acknowledgment: This study was supported by Kuwait University Research Grant No.ZD01/08.