title: Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Nurses toward Oral Health and Oral Health Care of Pregnant Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of medical nurses regarding oral health and oral health care of pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross sectional study of 133 nurses in the district of Tumpat, Kelantan (Malaysia) used self-administered questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most nurses knew that dental plaque is associated with periodontal disease (97.7%). However, most nurses erroneously believed that tooth decay (86.5%) and excessive sugar consumption (87.2%) led to periodontal disease. About half of the nurses knew about the relationship between periodontal disease of pregnant women and low birth weight (43.6%) and preterm birth (48.9%). Many nurses had the misconception that the developing foetus draws calcium from the mothers' teeth (78.2%). Most nurses had good attitudes toward improving their oral health knowledge (97.0%) and agreed they should help to deliver oral health education to pregnant women (94.0%). Age, length of service as a nurse, and length of service in antenatal care had no effect on the scores for the nurses' knowledge and attitude regarding oral health and oral health care of pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical nurses had limited knowledge about oral health of pregnant women and had some misunderstandings about oral health, although they had good attitudes. Age, length of service as a nurse, and length service in antenatal care had no effect on the knowledge and attitude scores of the nurses.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharif
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norkhafizah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saddki
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Azizah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yusoff
keywords: attitude; knowledge; nurses; oral health; pregnancy