Pregnant Women’s Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Lifestyle Factors

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy is often associated with a number of oral manifestations. There is a change in lifestyle factors and dental care during pregnancy. Aim: We conducted this cross-sectional study to determine how lifestyle factors affect oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in pregnant women residing in Bero block, Jharkhand. Methods: The study included a total of 400 pregnant women aged 18–45. The assessment of lifestyle factors and OHRQOL was done using Health Practice Index (HPI) Index and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), respectively. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews. Results: Forty percent of the pregnant women showed low OHRQOL. The majority of them were not using mouthwash and were brushing their teeth using faulty techniques. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that women with poor lifestyle scores (Odds Ratio [OR] =3.8, P-value <0.0001*), and systemic diseases (OR = 2.6, P-value < 0.001*) were more likely to have poor OHRQOL. Conclusion: Pregnancy is associated with poor OHRQOL and poor lifestyle scores. Effective policies for oral health need to be drafted for this group.