Current Status and Innovative Interventions for Maternal and Child Oral Health in Primary Healthcare Settings: A Pilot Evaluation in Western China

Maternal and child oral health remains a critical yet underexplored aspect of public health, particularly in resource-limited primary healthcare settings. In Western China, socioeconomic and geographic challenges often result in inadequate preventive measures and limited access to oral healthcare services. This pilot evaluation aimed to investigate the current status of maternal and child oral health in primary healthcare facilities in Western China and to assess the feasibility of implementing innovative interventions to improve oral health outcomes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in six community hospitals across rural regions of Western China. A total of 320 participants were recruited, including 120 pregnant women, 150 mothers of children aged 0–6 years, and 50 healthcare providers. Data were collected via structured questionnaires covering oral health knowledge, hygiene practices, and service utilization. An innovative intervention package—comprising tailored oral health education, nutritional guidance, and referral support—was then introduced. Pre- and post-intervention data were compared to evaluate changes in knowledge scores, oral hygiene behaviors, and routine dental visits. At baseline, the overall prevalence of dental caries among pregnant women and mothers was 44.1%, with pregnant women having a slightly higher rate (47.5%) than mothers (41.3%). Meanwhile, only 18.4% of participants reported regular dental visits. After the intervention, the mean oral health knowledge score increased from 4.5 ± 1.1 to 6.8 ± 1.3 (p < 0.001), and the proportion of routine dental visits rose from 18.4% to 35.9% (p < 0.05). Qualitative feedback from healthcare providers showed an 86.0% acceptance rate for the intervention package, although concerns about resource constraints and long-term sustainability were noted. This pilot study underscores the urgent need for targeted maternal and child oral health strategies in Western China’s primary healthcare settings. The proposed innovative interventions demonstrated initial feasibility and effectiveness, meriting further large-scale, long-term investigations to validate and refine these approaches.