Physician Perceptions of Oral Health for Pregnant Women: A Bangladesh Perspective

Background: This study aimed to investigate obstetricians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral health care for pregnant women in Bangladesh. Obstetricians are crucial collaborators with dental surgeons to address oral problems during pregnancy and ensure safe, optimal care. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 211 respondents in four divisions of Bangladesh from July 1 to December 19, 2023. Eight medical colleges, comprising an equal number of public and private institutions, were randomly selected to ensure balanced representation. A structured questionnaire consisting of 34 items was developed following an extensive literature review. The tool covered sociodemographic characteristics (7 items) and physicians’ knowledge (12 items), attitudes (7 items), and practices (8 items) regarding oral health care for pregnant women. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to examine associations among KAP scores and demographic variables, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Three-quarters of respondents (158, 75%) recognized a connection between hormonal changes and an increased risk of gum disease, while 60 (28.4%) respondents asserted that gum disease is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, 185 (87.7%) respondents acknowledged a connection between maternal oral health and other health conditions. A total of 184 (87.2%) obstetricians advised brushing twice daily, and 190 (90%) recommended dental consultations for related problems. However, 110 (52%) respondents did not routinely provide oral health advice to expectant mothers. Additionally, 130 (61.6%) participants reported that their undergraduate curriculum did not include pregnancy-related oral health information. Standardized knowledge scores were positively correlated with education (r = 0.189, p < 0.01), age (r = 0.179, p < 0.01), and work experience (r = 0.158, p < 0.05). Standardized attitude scores were positively correlated with age (r = 0.159, p < 0.05) and work experience (r = 0.193, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Oral health education for obstetricians is essential to improve oral health care for expectant mothers and achieve better health outcomes.