Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at South Tongu Municipal Hospital in The Volta Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Maternal oral health is an important component of overall maternal and child health, yet it remains poorly integrated into routine antenatal care in many low- and middle-income countries. Physiological and hormonal changes during pregnancy increase the risk of oral conditions such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, which have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth and low birth weight. Despite these risks, knowledge, attitudes, and preventive oral health practices among pregnant women remain inadequate in many settings. Aim: This study aimed to assess the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at South Tongu Municipal Hospital in the Volta Regionof Ghana. Method: Method: A facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal care at South Tongu Municipal Hospital. A consecutive sampling technique was used to recruit eligible pregnant women during the data collection period. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through KoboCollect. A total of 406 pregnant women were targeted, and 334 respondents provided complete data for analysis, representing a response rate of approximately 82%. Data were analyzed using STATA. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize variables, while Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were used to examine associations between selected variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The findings revealed generally low levels of oral health knowledge among respondents, with 57.78% demonstrating poor knowledge of oral health during pregnancy. However, 58.38% of respondents exhibited positive attitudes toward oral healthcare during pregnancy. Oral health practices were generally good, with 87.43% reporting good oral hygiene practices such as brushing twice daily and using fluoride toothpaste. Despite these positive practices, utilization of professional dental services during pregnancy was very low, with only 7.51% reporting visiting a dentist during pregnancy. Statistical analysis showed no significant association between oral health knowledge and oral health practices (χ² = 3.666, p = 0.056) and no significant association between attitudes and oral health practices (χ² = 1.36, p > 0.05). Conclusion: Although most pregnant women demonstrated good oral hygiene practices and relatively positive attitudes toward oral health, knowledge regarding oral health during pregnancy was generally inadequate, and utilization of professional dental services was extremely low. These findings highlight the need to strengthen oral health education and integrate dental screening and referral into routine antenatal care services to improve maternal oral health awareness and preventive care.