PRACTICES AND KNOWLEDGE OF ORAL HYGIENE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN A PAKISTANI TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: To define the self – reported oral health knowledge, attitudes and oral hygiene habits, among pregnant women getting antenatal care at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital Karachi. Method and Material: A cross – sectional questionnaire – based survey was conducted at the KVSS Site Hospital antenatal clinic during the period January – June 2013. The data was analyzed using the SPSS for Windows (version 16.0; SPSS Inc. Chicago. IL) statistical software package and was validated visually. Result: Most of the respondents revealed a reasonable level of oral health knowledge and positive attitudes towards oral health. However, there were gaps in the oral health knowledge of the women surveyed. The relationship between the level of oral health knowledge and ethnicity (p = 0.856), level of education (p = 0.079), age category (p = 0.166), and trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.219) were not statistically significant. In addition, the women's knowledge and attitude towards oral health was not reflected in their oral hygiene practices. Conclusion: There is a need to provide oral health education for pregnant women during antenatal care in order to highlight the significance of good oral health in achieving good health for both the mother and her baby.