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. 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.