A survey of self-reported oral health practices, behaviour and oral health status of pregnant women attending TBA ante-natal clinics in a Nigerian rural community.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the self-reported oral health practices, behaviour and oral health status of pregnant women attending traditional birth attendant (TBA) clinics in a rural community. Methods: A cross sectional survey of the oral health practices and oral health status of sixty-two pregnant women attending traditional birth attendant clinics in a rural community was conducted using interviewer-administered questionnaires.Dental caries experiencewas determined using WHO diagnostic criteria to measure the DMFT,Significant caries (Sic) while oral hygiene status was determined using criteria by Greene and Vermillion. Frequency distribution by age, pregnancy status, occupational status, sugary snack consumption, tooth brushing, exposure to fluoride toothpaste and dental visits were obtained. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 and level of significance was placed at p