Abstract

CHAVES DE MENESES, Izaura Helena; DA SILVA MESQUITA, Bruno; RODRIGUES RIBEIRO FERNANDES PESSOA, Talitha  and  ALBUQUERQUE PASSOS FARIAS, Isabela. Prevalence of dental anxiety and its relationship to socioeconomic factors among pregnant women from Joao Pessoa, Brazil. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2014, vol.51, n.2, pp.145-155. ISSN 0034-7507.

Objectives: determine the prevalence and level of dental anxiety among pregnant women from Joao Pessoa, Brazil, and analyze its relationship to socioeconomic factors. Methods: the sample consisted of 360 pregnant women registered with Family Health Units in the city of Joao Pessoa, Brazil. The study was based on the Dental Anxiety Scale and a structured questionnaire through which socioeconomic factors were surveyed. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, with a significance of 5 %. Results: the prevalence of anxiety among pregnant women was 96.4%. Most (41,1 %) showed high anxiety levels (p < 0,001). The mean age of mothers was 23,4 ± 5,9 years. As to marital status, most mothers were married (35 %). Average family income was 610,07, with 92,% below two minimum salaries. A total 89 patients (24,7 %) were in their first quarter, whereas most (47,8 %) were in their second quarter (p > 0,05). Conclusion: most women had high level anxiety. The socioeconomic factors studied did not show any association with the presence of anxiety. The study revealed the importance of dental care during pregnancy and the measures aimed at reducing dental anxiety.

Keywords : pregnancy; anxiety; oral health; family health; socioeconomic factors; primary health care.

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