Oral hygiene knowledge and practices among rural and urban pregnant women attending obstetrics and gynecology department in a tertiary care hospital of Ajmer, Rajasthan, India

Context: During pregnancy, poor oral hygiene practices and inadequate attention toward their oral health have an impact on the developing of the fetus and significant adverse pregnancy outcomes. Aims: The study aimed to assess the oral hygiene knowledge and practices among rural and urban pregnant women attending obstetrics and gynecology department in a tertiary care hospital of Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. Settings and Design: This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 400 samples were selected by convenience sampling technique. Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire containing 12 questions related to knowledge and practices pertaining to the oral health of pregnant women, along with sociodemographic data. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained from this questionnaire were collected and analyzed using the SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: A majority of respondents (74%) of urban areas had good oral hygiene status and of rural areas only (44.50%) had good oral hygiene. Awareness of the connection between pregnancy and oral health among the urban participants was 7.5%, whereas only 4.5% of rural participants were aware of the same. Oral hygiene practice was found to be relatively fair in urban participants compared to rural participants. Dental visits were seen to be higher in urban participants. Conclusion: This study revealed that the knowledge of pregnant women of the rural group about the association of oral hygiene knowledge and practices was poor. Oral hygiene knowledge and practices were significantly associated with education and socioeconomic status. Therefore, pregnant women need to be educated and made aware in both urban and rural areas of oral hygiene knowledge and practices toward oral health to improve adverse pregnancy outcomes.