A pilot health education intervention to improve oral health among females in childbearing age

ABSTRACT

Low awareness regarding the importance of oral health care during pregnancy, can limit the prevalence of oral health care among pregnant women. Awareness of the importance of oral health care starts even before pregnancy. The present study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a pilot oral health education intervention in changing oral health-related behavioral intentions, particularly perceptions of oral health care during pregnancy. A quasi-experimental study comprised a pretest–posttest was conducted with 46 female university students. The education program was based on the theory of planned behaviors and comprised mini lectures. A statistically significant positive changes were found in knowledge, attitude, and intention, while subjective norms significantly changed negatively; perceived behavioral control did not significantly change. Although not all elements of the Theory of Planned Behaviour positively changed the participants’ intention to seek oral health care increased greatly. Therefore, there is a need of a community-based health promotion programme targeting preventive oral health care among women of childbearing age using theory-based education.

KEYWORDS:

• Oral health
• dentistry
• health education
• theory of planned behaviors

Acknowledgment

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-Track Research Funding Program.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical consideration

Ethical approval was received from the University Vice Rectorate for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Institutional Review Board (IRB: 18-0367) at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University. A written informed consent was obtained from the study participants, who were informed of the subject under study and the information that would be collected. They were also informed of how their information would be used, that their information would remain confidential, their identity would be anonymous, participation was voluntary, they had the right to withdraw at any stage without giving a reason, and that there was no anticipated risk.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-Track Research Funding Program.