Self-reported oral health, oral hygiene habits, and dental attendance of pregnant women in Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe self-reported oral health, oral hygiene habits, and frequency of visits to a dentist among pregnant women in Kuwait.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study with an anonymous structured questionnaire was distributed among 650 pregnant women during May-June 2003, when they were admitted to the maternity ward at the largest government maternity hospital in Kuwait City. The response rate was 93% (n=603).


RESULTS
Every fourth respondent was in her first pregnancy, while 36% already had three or more children. Every fifth woman felt that her oral health was poor, and one-third of the women believed that they had periodontal problems currently. About two-thirds of the women were brushing more than once a day and almost all (94%) at least once a day. Over the previous 6 months, 40% had experienced dental pain. Half of the women had visited a dentist during pregnancy, mostly for dental pain. Most of the women had received no instructions concerning oral health care during their pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
A large proportion of the pregnant women in this study had oral health problems; however, half of the women had not seen a dentist during their pregnancy.
Honkala
Sisko
S
Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait. sisko.honkala@hsc.edu.kw
Al-Ansari
Jassem
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010298:Parity; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*