DOBARGANES COCA, Ana María et al. Oral health education in expectant mothers. []. , 15, 3, pp. 528-541. ISSN 1025-0255.

Background: pregnancy is a modified physiological state, in which maternal organism suffers big changes, the expectant mother requires an emotional self-regulation process and correct habits of health. Objective: to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention strategy in oral health for expectant mothers. Method: a community intervention study at “Ignacio Agramonte” Odontology clinic in Camagüey municipality was conducted, from January to August 2008. The universe was constituted by pregnant women that came to the clinic from December 2007 to April 2008; the sample was integrated by 60 patients which coincide with the universe by non probabilistic sampling. Risk factors and oral health problems were found, the oral hygiene index was determined through the appropriate technique and the level of information on oral health was also obtained by means of an interview for implementing the educational intervention. Results: deficient oral hygiene (83,3 %) and cariogenic diet (78,3 %) was detected. The 76,6 % of pregnant women were affected by periodontal disease and the 61,6 % by dental caries. At the beginning of the investigation the level of information on oral health was regular and insufficient, and the oral hygiene was not acceptable (81,6 %). At the end of study the results were good and the oral hygiene was acceptable (88,3 %). Conclusions: incorrect brushing and cariogenic diet as main risk factors for pregnant´s oral health and as the most frequent oral affections the periodontal disease and dental caries. Insufficient and regular evaluations predominated when analyzing the level of information on oral health at the beginning of the study, good and excellent at the end of the intervention. It was achieved to improve the efficiency on oral hygiene in the majority of pregnant women.

: ORAL HEALTH; HEALTH EDUCATION; PREGNANCY; INTERVENTION STUDIES.

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