title: [Oral health: social representations among pregnant mothers. Medellin, Colombia].
abstract: Based on the theory of social representations, a qualitative investigation was conducted in order to assess social representations in oral heath in pregnant mothers living in an urban environment. Twenty-eight pregnant adult women attending a prenatal program at a health institution in the city of Medellín, Colombia, were interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed; analysis was performed through open, axial and selective coding, in line with grounded theory. Findings revealed that although pregnant mothers are not greatly concerned about oral health after birth and in early childhood, it increases in importance during growth and development of the child when, besides chewing and feeding aspects, it acquires a socially important role. Analysis revealed how social representations anchored in tradition, with new elements from health professional discourses as well as mass media influences coexist in mothers in an urban environment. These include the close relationship between oral health and teeth, health linked to healthy practices as well as recourse to health services and oral health as a social advantage, related to esthetic aspects.
authors: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia. gescobarp@gmail.com
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Escobar-Paucar
authors: Catalina
authors: C
authors: Sosa-Palacio
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Sánchez-Mejía
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health; D011247:Pregnancy; D012938:Social Perception; D014505:Urban Population