Oral Health of the Newborn in the Maternity Ward: Expectations of Puerperal Women and Health Professionals

Objective: To know the expectations of puerperal women and health professionals about the attention to the oral health of newborns (NB) in the maternity ward. Method: This was a qualitative-exploratory study comprising 31 subjects, 16 puerperal women and 15 health professionals of the University Hospital Maternity Ward of Santa Catarina Federal University (HU/UFSC), Brazil. The data were collected from individual interviews and reviewed by thematic content analysis technique. The obtained categories were oral health instructions and care to NB, new mothers’ expectations concerning oral health attention to their babies and Health Team’s expectations concerning the dentist’s work at the Maternity Ward. Results: For the puerperal women, starting attention to the oral health of their children at birth is the opportunity to receive guidance on how to provide oral health care to NB. The mothers’ expectations on the attention to oral health started at the Maternity Ward resides on the possibility of their children not having caries disease in the future and, therefore, having good dental esthetics and a better social relationship. The health professionals reported on the exchange of knowledge and experiences between the dentist and the health team during treatment of the NB before discharge from the Maternity Ward. However, in view of their multiple assignments, they emphasized the need to include a dentist in the Maternity Ward Health Team as well as receiving training on subjects related to oral health. Conclusion: The expectations reported by the puerperal women and the Health Team refer to the lack of attention to the oral health of NB at the Maternity Ward. The puerperal women showed interest in receiving instructions on oral health care and the health professionals would like to have an interdisciplinary approach, including the oral health in the care to NB.