International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

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Assessment of Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Pregnant Women Aged 21-35 yrs Old Regarding Infant Oral Health in Jaipur

Author(s) Dr. Surbhi Surana, Dr. Reema Sharma, Dr. Nikhil Marwah, Dr. Riya Bafna, Dr. Harsha Patni, Dr. Siddharth Surana
Country India
Abstract Background: Pregnancy is a critical period that influences both maternal and infant health. Maternal knowledge and practices regarding oral health play a significant role in preventing oral diseases in children and promoting positive oral health behaviors from infancy. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant women regarding infant oral health.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 170 pregnant women aged 21–35 years attending the Outpatient Department of Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. A validated bilingual (English and Hindi) questionnaire comprising five sections on sociodemographic characteristics, maternal oral health knowledge and attitudes, infant oral health knowledge, oral health problems, and oral health practices was administered. Data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages.
Results: Most participants were aged 26–30 years (45.3%), graduates/postgraduates (58.2%), and housewives (85.3%). A majority (82.9%) reported receiving no oral health guidance during pregnancy, although 92.4% recognized the importance of toothbrushing. Awareness regarding the appropriate timing of dental treatment during pregnancy was limited, with 56.5% being unsure. Knowledge of infant oral health was moderate; 89.4% acknowledged the importance of primary teeth, 70.0% recognized mother-to-child transmission of caries-causing bacteria, and 67.6% agreed that prolonged bottle feeding is harmful to teeth. However, only 14.1% knew that a child’s first dental visit should occur with the eruption of the first tooth. Most participants reported brushing once (51.8%) or twice daily (47.1%), but only 12.9% had visited a dentist during pregnancy, and awareness regarding fluoridated toothpaste was low.
Conclusion: Although pregnant women demonstrated satisfactory awareness regarding basic oral hygiene and the importance of primary teeth, significant gaps existed in knowledge related to infant oral healthcare, fluoride use, dental visits during pregnancy, and the timing of a child’s first dental visit. Integrating oral health education into routine antenatal care through collaboration among pediatric dentists, obstetricians, and pediatricians may help improve maternal knowledge and promote better oral health outcomes for both mothers and children.
Keywords : Pregnancy, Infant oral health, Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, Oral health awareness, Preventive dentistry, Early childhood caries
Field Biology > Medical / Physiology
Published In Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On 2026-06-08
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E-ISSN 2582-2160
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CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

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