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234 rev port estomatol med dent cir maxilofac. 2021;62(4):229-236

Table 4. Knowledge of the pregnant woman regarding the child’s oral health.
Frequency
% (n)
Sociodemographic variables
Question
Total e 1 Pregnancy – Area
st
sample Education Area of residence of residence f
Group I a Group II Group III Group IV d p -value* Rural Urban p -value* Rural Urban p -value*
c
b
Do you know what early childhood caries is?
Yes 45.8 (55) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 45.2 (14) 47.7 (41) 65.6 (21) 38.5 (33) 68.4 (13) 35.3 (24)
No 43.3 (52) 0.0 (0) 50.0 (1) 38.7 (12) 45.3 (39) 0.034* 21.9 (7) 51.1 (44) 0.015* 21.1 (4) 54.4 (37) 0.027*
Don’t know 10.9 (13) 100.0 (1) 50.0 (1) 16.1 (5) 7.0 (6) 12.5 (4) 10.4 (9) 10.5 (2) 10.3 (7)
Do you think that nocturnal breastfeeding may be associated with dental caries in children?
Yes 15.8 (19) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 19.4 (6) 15.1 (13) 18,7 (6) 15.1 (13) 15.9 (3) 11.8 (8)
No 46.7 (56) 0.0 (0) 50.0 (1) 48.4 (15) 46.5 (40) 0.919 43.8 (14) 47.7 (41) 0.889 47.3 (9) 50.0 (34) 0.932
Don’t know 37.5 (45) 100.0 (1) 50.0 (1) 32.2 (10) 38.4 (33) 37.5 (12) 37.2 (32) 36.8 (7) 38.2 (26)
When do you think you should start the child’s oral hygiene?
Before the first teeth 26.9 (32) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 19.4 (6) 30.6 (26) 21.9 (7) 28.2 (24) 26.3 (5) 26.9 (18)
erupt
As soon as the first 57.1 (68) 0.0 (0) 50.0 (1) 54.8 (17) 58.8 (50) 53.1 (17) 58.8 (50) 36.8 (7) 61.1 (41)
teeth erupt 0.074 0.496 0.062
Only when all primary 10.1 (12) 100.0 (1) 50.0 (1) 19.4 (6) 4.7 (4) 15.6 (5) 8.3 (7) 21.1 (4) 6.0 (4)
teeth are visible
Don’t know 5.9 (7) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 6.4 (2) 5.9 (5) 9.4 (3) 4.7 (4) 15.8 (3) 6.0 (4)

Frequency
% (n)
Question Sociodemographic variables
Total sample Age (years)
≤ 25 26 – 30 31 – 35 > 35 p -value*
When do you think it is appropriate for your child to have his/her first dental visit?
Before the first teeth erupt 1.7 (2) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 3.2 (2) 0.0 (0)
As soon as the first teeth erupt 34.2 (40) 11.1 (1) 25.0 (6) 41.9 (26) 31.8 (7)
Only when all primary teeth 40.2 (47) 55.6 (5) 58.4 (14) 32.3 (20) 36.4 (8)
are visible
0.033*
Only when the child starts 3.4 (4) 11.1 (1) 0.0 (0) 4.8 (3) 0.0 (0)
to have permanent teeth
When there is a problem 4.3 (5) 22.2 (2) 8.3 (2) 1.6 (1) 0.0 (0)
Don’t know 16.2 (19) 0.0 (0) 8.3 (2) 16.2 (10) 31.8 (7)
Do you consider it important to treat your child’s primary teeth if they develop cavities?
Yes 90.0 (108) 77.8 (7) 87.5 (21) 92.1 (58)
Don’t know 10.0 (12) 22.2 (2) 12.5 (3) 7.9 (5) 0.621
2
* Chi -square test (χ ) under a 95% confidence interval (p<0.05)
a Group I: Primary – 1 Cycle (up to 4 years of schooling)
st
b Group II: Lower Secondary (up to 9 years of schooling)
c Group III: Upper Secondary (up to 12 years of schooling)
d Group IV: Higher Education (university level)
e n = 118. Two participants did not answer this question.
f n = 88

Even though our results generally reflect those found in Conclusions
the international literature, 7,17,19,21-27,30,39 such a comprehen-
sive characterization of oral health-related knowledge and the Most pregnant women taking part in this study believed preg-
practices of expectant mothers has not been reported for Por- nancy could be harmful to their oral condition, and a signifi-
tuguese cohorts. This work enabled the identification of im- cant proportion did not seek prenatal oral health care. Sur-
portant gaps and illustrated the urgent need for prenatal ed- veyed women also lacked knowledge of the potential impact
ucation and promotion of oral health in Portugal. of their periodontal status on gestation and were unaware of