KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF PREGNANT MOTHERS TOWARDS DENTAL HEALTH CARE DURING GESTATION AT MPIGI HEALTH CENTRE IV MPIGI DISTRICT.A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

ANTHONY ABITEGEKA; ANTHONY MAWANDA

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i12.836

Authors

Anthony Abitegeka Department of Public Health Dentistry, International Paramedical Institute Maya (IPI)
Anthony Mawanda Department of Public Health Dentistry, International Paramedical Institute Maya (IPI)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i12.836

Keywords:

Dental Health Care, Mothers, Mpigi Health Centre IV

Abstract

Background

According to WHO, worldwide up to 70% of pregnant mothers do not know the importance of dental health care during pregnancy and this has led to various severe outcomes in the context of maternal and child health and survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant mothers towards dental health care during gestation at Mpigi H/C IV Mpigi District.

Methods:

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that employed quantitative methods of data collection where Multi-stage sampling and simple random sampling procedures were used to obtain a sample of 60 respondents.

Results:

The majority of the respondents, 70%, were unaware of the importance of dental health care during pregnancy. Most respondents 77% had a poor attitude towards dental health care during pregnancy. The majority of the respondents 70% had poor practices about dental health care during pregnancy and this has led to various severe negative outcomes to both the mother and the unborn child.

Conclusion:

Most respondents had adequate knowledge of the importance of dental health care during pregnancy. More than three quarters had a negative attitude towards utilization of dental health care during pregnancy and more than half had inappropriate practices towards dental health care during pregnancy.

Recommendations:

The Ministry of Health should strengthen health education on the importance of dental health care during pregnancy at all points of contact with mothers and clear sensitization should be done to the community, cultural leaders and religious leaders should use their influence to sensitize and encourage the community to embrace dental health care services during pregnancy at cultural and religious gatherings, community outreaches should be held and refresher training of health workers with an emphasis towards this aspect should be done.