title: Knowledge of dental decay and associated factors among pregnant women: a study from rural India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge of dental decay among pregnant women and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics and caries experience in rural India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 381 pregnant women in southern India. Variables and knowledge of dental decay were recorded using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Dental caries was recorded by a calibrated examiner as per WHO guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the respondents were under 30 years of age (91.6%), utilised a public health-care delivery system (57.2%), were primigravid (63%), had a pre-universtiy diploma (64.8%) and were in the 3rd trimester (63%). Overall, poor knowledge was expressed by 12% to 37% of the women. The mean (±SD) DT (decayed teeth), MT (missing teeth), FT (filled teeth) and DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) were 3.08 (±2.6), 0.93 (±2.23), 0.39 (±1.14) and 4.4 (±3.56), respectively. There were no significant differences in the responses to the knowledge of caries with respect to age and trimester. Educational status, health-care delivery system and number of pregnancies had a significant association with knowledge of caries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted the limited knowledge of dental decay among pregnant, rural, southern Indian women. Preventive programmes for pregnant women should be designed based upon a thorough interview including an informative session on the specific risks during this period, in order to motivate the patient towards oral health and implement the needed prophylactic measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, India. drkalyan81@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kalyana Chakravarthy
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pentapati
authors.forename: Shashidhar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Meghashyam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Sreevidya Krishna
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Sweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D020073:Gravidity; D019981:Health Care Sector; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D012423:Rural Health; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000145:classification; D055815:Young Adult