The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55227

Kathy R. Phipps, DrPH¹, Kenneth D. Rosenberg, MD, MPH², and Alfredo P. Sandoval, MS, MBA². (1) Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors, PO Box 1006, Morro Bay, CA 93443, 805-771-9788, kathy_phipps@class.oregonvos.net, (2) Office of Family Health, Oregon Department of Human Services, 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 850, Portland, OR 97232

Little is known about the use of dental services during pregnancy. Research suggests that a woman’s oral health may impact birth outcomes.

To obtain information on dental care during pregnancy, questions were added to Oregon’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a survey of maternal behaviors and experience before, during and shortly after pregnancy. A stratified random sample of mothers (n=2,950) were asked whether, during their pregnancy, they needed to see a dentist for a problem, whether they went to a dentist, and whether a healthcare provider talked with them about the importance of seeing a dentist.

The overall response rate for PRAMS was 73.1%. Forty-three percent of the women reported going to a dentist and 27.6% reported that they needed to see a dentist for a problem. Of the women who reported needing to see a dentist, only 59.6% went to a dentist. In multivariate analysis, among women who said they needed to see a dentist during their pregnancy, those most likely to not see a dentist had unintended pregnancies (ORa=1.72; 95% CI 0.87-3.45), annual family income <$30,000 (1.33; 0.57-3.13), and were enrolled in WIC (1.35; 0.60-3.03). A healthcare provider talked to 30.6% of the women about the importance of seeing a dentist during pregnancy.

The majority of Oregon women did not see a dentist and few received information on the importance of seeing a dentist during pregnancy. Efforts need to be made to educate both women and healthcare providers on the importance of dental care during pregnancy.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: describe the oral health component of Oregon PRAMS, list the risk factors associated with the failure to access dental care during pregnancy, and list the risk factors associated with oral health problems during pregnancy.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.