A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Attitude about the Association between Maternal Periodontitis and its Adverse Obstetric Outcomes in Mothers

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes of health-care professionals and pregnant women regarding the association between maternal periodontitis and adverse obstetric outcomes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 health-care professionals and 400 pregnant women. Demographic data, including gender, age group, education level, and occupation, were recorded. Mean knowledge and attitude scores were computed and compared between the two groups. Results: Health-care professionals demonstrated a good understanding of the association between maternal periodontitis and adverse obstetric outcomes, as evidenced by their higher mean knowledge score of 7.82 ± 1.75 out of 10. In contrast, pregnant women exhibited lower mean knowledge scores of 4.53 ± 1.34, indicating the presence of knowledge gaps within this group. Both health-care professionals and pregnant women expressed positive attitudes, with mean scores of 4.58 ± 0.89 and 3.92 ± 1.12, respectively. However, health-care professionals demonstrated a slightly more positive attitude than pregnant women. Conclusions: The study revealed a notable difference in knowledge levels between health-care professionals and pregnant women concerning maternal periodontitis and obstetric outcomes. While health-care professionals exhibited a higher understanding of the association, pregnant women showed some knowledge gaps. Nevertheless, both groups displayed positive attitudes toward the topic. The findings underscore the importance of targeted educational interventions to improve knowledge among pregnant women and enhance patient care by health-care professionals in relation to maternal periodontal health and its impact on obstetric outcomes.