Resident obstetricians' awareness of the oral health component in management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Abstract

BackgroundNausea and vomiting are common in early pregnancy in 50-90% of pregnant women and resolves in all but 10% of these women. Many obstetricians encounter this problem and should be familiar with the probable outcomes, current treatment options and oral health component of its management. This study assessed the awareness of obstetrics residents of the oral health component of management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.MethodsThis study was carried out among resident doctors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Nigeria. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection. The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17.0. Non parametric analysis in the form of chi square was carried out to test for statistical significance with P value <0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsA total of 200 questionnaires were administered while 186 were filled and returned, giving a response rate of 93%, comprising 21.5% senior residents and 78.5% junior residents. Most of the respondents agreed that oral health is important in pregnancy. A majority (58%) also thought that oral health complaints in pregnancy were not normal. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents neither assessed teeth and gums of pregnant women for problems during ante-natal care nor educated them on care that would improve their oral health. Majority (95.7%) of the respondents assisted pregnant women with dealing with nausea and vomiting but were not aware of the oral health component of its management.ConclusionOral health component in the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy has been largely neglected in obstetric care. It is pertinent that ante-natal health care providers receive adequate education on perinatal oral health care.

Oral health awareness and practices in pregnant women: An observational study

“…Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy results in extensive erosion of the tooth surface which results in deterioration of their oral health status. 21 The elevated levels of gonadotropins in the first trimester, are reason for nausea and vomiting. Elevated amounts of progesterone, by a central-acting mechanism, decrease the rate of the gastric emptying.…”

Enjoo decorrente da higienização dentária e condição periodontal de mulheres grávidas

“…Este fato pode estar relacionado ao ingresso tardio das gestantes para o pré-natal, durante o segundo ou terceiro trimestre gestacional, período no qual os enjoos tendem a diminuir. Os enjoos, quando presentes, podem favorecer o desinteresse com os cuidados de higiene bucal, com a diminuição na frequência da escovação dentária, favorecendo o acúmulo de placa bacteriana 12 , que associada à alterações na microbiota e hormonais, tornam a gestante um grupo de risco para desenvolvimento da cárie dentária e doença periodontal 10 . Neste contexto, as lesões de mancha branca, que ainda são reversíveis, se associados à frequência diária de ingestão de alimentos, principalmente os açucarados e o grupo dos carboidratos, pelas mulheres grávidas, que aumenta em decorrência da mudança de paladar 21, bem como, da diminuição da capacidade fi siológica do estomago, podem favorecer o agravamento das lesões de mancha branca para lesões cariosas 10 , principalmente quando há baixa frequência de higienização dentária, assim, faz-se de extrema importância a atenção pré-natal odontológica para controle e reversão à condição de saúde bucal 22 .…”

“…No contexto da saúde bucal, é necessário considerar que a presença de enjoos podem ocasionar um descuido com a higiene bucal, favorecendo o acúmulo de placa bacteriana e quando associado à um aumento na frequência de ingestão de alimentos, especialmente os açucarados, pode ocorrer o desenvolvimento de problemas bucais como cárie dentária, gengivite e periodontite 10,11 , além da diminuição do pH, através do processo de desmineralização dentária, representando o estágio inicial da cárie, denominado "mancha branca" 12 .…”

Perceptions of Antenatal Care Providers About Oral Health of Pregnant Women at the Hospitals of Karachi

“…It is a crucial period of time in a woman's life and maintaining oral health is directly related to good overall health," says Aharon Hagai, D.M.D (6). Pregnancy is an exclusively important in the oral health promotion because of its complex physiologic changes occurring throughout the pregnancy which are responsible for fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen level (7).There is high incidence of dental caries due to increased food craving in pregnancy which leads to food consumption rich in carbohydrates (8).It is mandatory for health care professionals to capable enough to guide their patients effectively regarding health issues which are common primarily (9). The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices of ANC providers about oral health of pregnant women in the hospitals of Karachi and to determine the association between sociodemographics, knowledge, attitude and barriers with practices.…”