Educational intervention to improve oral health beliefs and behaviors during pregnancy: a randomized-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral and dental health is one of the most important aspects of public health, which becomes more important during pregnancy. Health education may effectively prevent a considerable percent of oral and dental diseases.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an oral and dental health educational intervention during pregnancy on the beliefs and behaviors of pregnant women on oral and dental health.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: In this randomized-controlled clinical trial, 160 pregnant women were allocated randomly to intervention and control groups (80 in each group). The intervention group received six education sessions over 3 weeks on oral health issues, whereas the control group received no education. Beliefs and behaviors of pregnant women on oral health were evaluated before, immediately, and 2 months after the educational intervention using a self-administered questionnaire containing 13 Likert scale belief statements and nine practice items.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the scores of behaviors between the two groups, whereas the scores of beliefs of the educated group were lower than the controls at baseline. The scores of beliefs and behaviors were significantly higher in the educated group than the controls immediately and 2 months after the education program (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The results of the present study indicated the positive effects of oral health training during pregnancy in promoting the beliefs and behaviors of pregnant women on oral health. More attention to oral and dental education programs is recommended during pregnancy.