Condições de saúde bucal de gestantes durante a assistência pré-natal

Abstract

Introduction: In addition to the physical and emotional changes characteristic of the gestational period, many beliefs and myths involve pregnancy and the health of the mother-child binomial and can influence the pregnant woman's habits and attitudes. Dental treatment in pregnant women is one of these myths, the main question being whether it can harm the baby's health or its formation, resulting in the dentist not seeking this public. The main reasons involve uncertainty about the treatment during pregnancy, the risks for the formation of the fetus and the low perception of treatment needs. Objective: To evaluate the association of impacts caused by oral health habits with sociodemographic variables of pregnant women on quality of life by measuring the quality of life related to oral health. Methodological Procedures: This study was carried out with 93 pregnant women in which perceptions of oral health arising from the lack of dental follow-up during prenatal care were evaluated. For data collection, a Google Forms form made available via email to the participants was used, containing three instruments: one with sociodemographic data, another relevant to oral health and the third, the Oral Health Impact Profile. For statistical analysis of categorical variables, absolute and quantitative frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion were used. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for quantitative predictors and t-student for dichotomous. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with a significance level of 0.05. Results: The 93 interviewees were predominantly aged between 18 and 23 years (38.7%), family income between one to two minimum wages (45.2%), complete high school (23.7%) as well as complete higher education ( 23.7%). Considerable statistical differences were identified in terms of increasing age, low education and lower family income, and the commitment to oral health through the Oral Health Impact Profile instrument. Regarding habits, it was observed that 71% consumed alcoholic beverages and 87.1% were smokers. Means related to smoking participants show considerable statistical differences (p<0.05) in terms of impairment to oral health. When analyzing the dental perceptions, 51.6% of the participants judged that they cannot undergo dental treatment during pregnancy and that 86% did not receive guidance during the gestational period to perform dental follow-up. Of the participants, 87.1% were not informed by any professional about the importance of dental monitoring during pregnancy and 50.5% of the pregnant women had oral changes, with statistical significance (p<0.05), these changes consisting of 37.6 % of symptoms related to gingivitis. Conclusion: It is suggested that studies be carried out considering a larger sample size with the same variables and instruments used in this research in order to better understand the interference of the various socioeconomic and cultural factors involved in the oral health of pregnant women, since studies in this area they are still scarce.