Pediatric oral health knowledge of African American and Hispanic of Mexican origin expectant mothers.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the impact of a lecture on children's oral health knowledge of pregnant women from vulnerable African American (AA) and Hispanic of Mexican origin (HM) populations utilizing the same urban community health center prenatal education program.


METHODS
Participants heard one 45-minute lecture in English or Spanish on children's oral health, and completed a survey (English or Spanish) before and after the lecture.


RESULTS
Seven sessions provided 60 participants: (a) 30 AA; and (b) 30 HM. These two groups differed on: (1) educational attainment; (2) preferred language; (3) country of origin; and (4) baseline scores. They were similar in: (1) age; (2) frequency of first mothers; and (3) final scores. Oral health knowledge significantly rose from baseline to the end of the lecture (ANOVA, P < .001). Educational attainment was associated with HM baseline scores (P = .04), whereas age was associated with AA final scores (P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
An oral health lecture within a prenatal program improved oral health knowledge for African American and Hispanic of Mexican origin pregnant women, though associated factors varied between the two groups. Further study is needed to explore long-term knowledge retention and effect on the future babies' oral health.
Kaste
Linda M
LM
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. kaste@uic.edu
Sreenivasan
Deepa
D
Koerber
Anne
A
Punwani
Indru
I
Fadavi
Shahrbanoo
S
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education*; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D016014:Linear Models; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000193:education*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care