Comment citer
Résumé
Introduction
Oral health during pregnancy is a critical component of maternal and child health due to its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of periodontal disease and related complications, yet maternal oral health remains underemphasized in antenatal care in many parts of Nigeria.
Purpose
This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of oral hygiene among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 171 pregnant women recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a validated, structured questionnaire and analysed with SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, while Pearson correlation examined associations between KAP scores.
Results
Most respondents (69.6%) had moderate knowledge of oral hygiene, and attitudes were generally positive (mean score = 3.78). However, practices were suboptimal, with low mean scores for brushing twice daily (2.91) and use of dental floss (2.83). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between knowledge and attitude (r = .43, p < .001), knowledge and practice (r = .39, p < .001), and attitude and practice (r = .41, p < .001).
Conclusion
Although pregnant women demonstrated moderate knowledge and favourable attitudes toward oral hygiene, their practices did not align. Integrating oral health education into antenatal care and strengthening community-based oral health promotion initiatives are recommended to improve maternal oral health outcomes in the study setting.
Références
Adeniyi, A., Donnelly, L., Janssen, P., Jevitt, C., Kardeh, B., Von Bergmann, H., & Brondani, M. (2021). Pregnant women’s perspectives on integrating preventive oral health in prenatal care. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03526-5
Awasthi, K. R., Awasthi, M. S., & Saud, B. (2020). Knowledge and practice regarding maintaining oral hygiene among pregnant women in Lalitpur, Nepal. Journal of Medical Case Reports and Reviews, 3(2).
Ayamolowo, L. B., Esan, A. O., Ibitoye, O. S., Eleje, G. U., Akinsolu, F. T., Salako, A. O., & Foláyan, M. O. (2024). Oral health behavior of pregnant women in Nigeria: A scoping review. BMC Oral Health, 24(1), 971. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04001-w
Chinenye-Julius, A. E., Omeonu, P. E., & Akinsola, K. (2021). Knowledge, attitude and practices of oral hygiene among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Nigeria: Evidence from Ogun State. African Journal of Health Sciences, 34(1), 44–54.
Gavic, L., Maretic, A., Putica, S., & Tadin, A. (2022). Attitudes and knowledge of pregnant women about oral health. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 11(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_980_21
Gil-Montoya, J. A., Rivero-Blanco, T., Leon-Rios, X., Exposito-Ruiz, M., Pérez-Castillo, I., & Aguilar-Cordero, M. J. (2023). Oral and general health conditions involved in periodontal status during pregnancy: A prospective cohort study. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 308(6), 1765–1773. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-023-07141-4
Hannah, O. C., & Howells, I. E. (2020). Knowledge, attitude and practice of good oral hygiene among pregnant women in Rivers State, Southern Nigeria–A multicenter study. Asian Research Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 4(3), 22–36.
Iheozor-Ejiofor, Z., Walsh, T., Lewis, S. R., Riley, P., Boyers, D., Clarkson, J. E., & O'Malley, L. (2024). Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2024(10). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010856.pub3
Javali, M. A., Saquib, S. A., Khader, M. A., Khalid, I., AlShahrani, A. Y., Kanji, M. A., & Asiri, E. (2022). Oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women in Deccan, South India: A cross-sectional prenatal survey. Journal of Medicine and Life, 15(3), 420. https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2022-0201
Machado, V., Ferreira, M., Lopes, L., Mendes, J. J., & Botelho, J. (2023). Adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal periodontal disease: An overview on meta-analytic and methodological quality. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(11), 3635. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12113635
Okoromu, M., & Ehizele, A. (2022). Assessment of knowledge and awareness about periodontal health among pregnant women in Benin City. Nigerian Journal of Medical and Dental Education, 4(2), 60–69.
Okeigbemen, S. A. (2021). Oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practices among trainee community health officers in a Nigerian tertiary health institution. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 24(2), 219–223.
Oladoyin, V., Adedini, S., Ijadunola, K., Ogunwemimo, H., Folorunso, O., Chukwu, E., & Fatusi, A. (2025). The assessment of routine health information system performance towards improvement of quality of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services in Ondo and Ekiti States, Nigeria. PLOS ONE, 20(1), e0318010. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318010
Omisakin, O. O., Mohammed, D. A., Fomete, B., & Adze, J. A. (2021). Oral health knowledge and practices among pregnant women in a teaching hospital in North-West Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Medical and Dental Education, 3(1), 12–18.
Onwuka, C., Onwuka, C. I., Iloghalu, E. I., Udealor, P. C., Ezugwu, E. C., Menuba, I. E., & Ututu, C. (2021). Pregnant women utilization of dental services: Still a challenge in low-resource setting. BMC Oral Health, 21, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-021-01678-2
Popoola, B. O., Bankole, O. O., Olanloye, O. M., & Akinyamoju, C. A. (2021). Child and maternal oral health habits and health status in a tertiary dental hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. Archives of Basic and Applied Medicine, 9(2), 153–160.
Sanchez, P., Everett, B., Salamonson, Y., Redfern, J., Ajwani, S., Bhole, S., & George, A. (2019). The oral health status, behaviours and knowledge of patients with cardiovascular disease in Sydney, Australia: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Oral Health, 19, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-019-0740-3
Sharma, S., Bartaula, M., Risal, S., Devkota, N., & Risal, S. (2024). Association between maternal periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes: A cross-sectional study at a maternity hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Cureus, 16(12). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.52378
Williams, T. M., Babalola, A. E., Bolarinwa, O., Somoye, V. A., Azeez, O. A., Onasanya, O. J., & Egemonye, A. F. (2025). Oral health knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. BMC Oral Health, 25, 937. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-04210-9
Ce travail est disponible sous licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d’Utilisation Commerciale 4.0 International.