Comparative Analysis of the Oral Hygiene of Pregnant Women Attending Urban and Rural Primary Health Care Centres in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The oral cavity is connected to the other parts of the body hence any disease in the oral cavity can eventually affect the overall health of the individual. The aim of this study was to assess the oral hygiene of women attending antenatal care clinic at Primary Health Care Centres in urban and rural areas in Abuja, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic in Primary Health Care facilities in Abuja. Participants were selected using consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a semi structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23. Significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Chi square for proportions was used to compare the two groups.

Results: In total 201 participants were from urban areas while 206 were from rural areas. Participants were aged between 16 and 49 years and their occupations ranged from business; 131(32.2%) to job applicants; 4 (1.0%). Thirty three (16.4%) urban women and 37 (18.0%) rural women understood that poor oral hygiene can affect pregnancy (p = 0.68). Six (3.0%) of the pregnant women had visited a dentist during their current pregnancy. Twenty four (11.9%) urban and 31 (15.1%) rural women used vertical motion to clean their teeth (p =0.001). One hundred and twenty one (60.2%) urban and 156 (75.7%) rural women had good oral hygiene and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: The pregnant rural women had better oral hygiene than the pregnant urban women.