title: Can a prenatal dental public health program make a difference?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some pregnant women may be at increased risk of poor oral health. A publicly funded prenatal dental program in Vancouver, British Columbia, called Healthiest Babies Possible (HBP), has been providing oral health education and limited clinical services for over 20 years to low-income women assessed to be at high risk of preterm or low-weight births. This report is an assessment of the initial outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective before-after evaluation of a non-probability convenience sample of women was undertaken over 1 year (2005-2006). Participants were seen at the customary 2 clinic visits, and were asked to return for a postnatal visit. Data collected by an inside evaluator, the program's dental hygienist, included questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, observations, clinical indices, appointment statistics and self-reports. Univariate and bivariate analyses (Student's t test and ANOVA) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 67 women in the sample, 61 agreed to participate; 36 (59%) attended all 3 appointments at the clinic, and 40 (66%) completed all 3 interviews and questionnaires either at the clinic or by telephone. Clinical indices of gingival health improved significantly over the time of the evaluation. Improvements in tooth cleaning were demonstrated by a significant decrease in plaque (p < 0.001). The proportion of the women's other children receiving professional dental care increased significantly (p < 0.001). Oral health knowledge improved and, overall, women expressed satisfaction with the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants in this evaluation demonstrated improved gingival health, enhanced knowledge of oral health and positive tooth-cleaning behaviour. These women pursued infant oral care and sought professional dental visits for their children.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia. dianallin@aol.com
authors.forename: Diana Louise
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rosamund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aleksejuniene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001724:Birth Weight; D001955:British Columbia; D003729:Dental Care; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D057566:Self Report