Oral Health Care During Pregnancy And Its Related Outcomes - A Case Of Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua

Abstract

Introduction: Most pregnant women worldwide experience several oral conditions due to hormonal and other systemic changes that accompany pregnancy. These oral conditions may either occur anew or be an exacerbation of a preexisting chronic oral disease. Examples of such oral conditions include gingivitis, periodontitis, pregnancy epulis amongst others. Problem: Unfortunately, poor oral health in pregnancy is translated into serious effects on both mother and child like preterm birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus and low birth weight of a neonate. Despite these dire consequences, there are no obviously spelt out policies in Ghana requiring pregnant women to visit a dentist during their antenatal care to correct any such oral conditions. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of reported oral health conditions amongst pregnant women, the prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with poor oral health and to establish whether receipt of oral healthcare had a role to play in preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done using secondary data from the Electronic Medical Records of Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua. Using MS Excel and Stata 16.1, this data was analysed with descriptive statistics and an odds ratio calculated to determine the strength of association between receipt of oral health care and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results: This data showed that only 0.8% of pregnant women visited the dental clinic from February 2018 to January 2020 most of whom presented with acute cases. The most prevalent reported poor oral health condition was dental caries. Although only 1.67% of pregnant women who received oral care during pregnancy had an adverse pregnancy outcome, 4.22% amongst those who did not receive oral care, had adverse pregnancy outcomes related to poor oral health. Receipt of oral healthcare was, however, not related to the prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes (whilst controlling for age and NHIS status) [OR: 0.3791, p-value of 0.0522] Conclusion: Dental attendance by pregnant women was low. Pregnant women who had oral healthcare mostly reported with acute oral conditions like dental caries. Although prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes amongst those who had no oral healthcare in pregnancy was more than those who had oral healthcare, the relationship between receipt of oral health care and occurrence of adverse pregnancy was not significant. Recommendation: Further research ought to be done in the area of oral healthcare during pregnancy and its effect on maternal health. Pregnant women ought to be sensitized by midwives, dentists, obstetricians and nurses on the need to have oral healthcare during pregnancy.