Effectiveness of Anticipatory Guidance on the Knowledge and Attitude of Pregnant Women Attending Government Hospital, Thirumangalam, Madurai

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: Improving maternal knowledge plays a major role in developing good oral health habits and in preventing diseases like early childhood caries in their children. The present study is aimed to provide pregnant women with the anticipatory guidance and to evaluate its effect on promoting the knowledge and attitude of pregnant mothers regarding infant and toddler's oral health care. Material and Method: In this interventional study, 600 pregnant women attending government hospital, Madurai, were divided into direct intervention, indirect intervention, and control groups. A self-reported questionnaire was completed before intervention. The anticipatory guidance was presented to the direct intervention group by PowerPoint and to the indirect group by pamphlets. Immediately after the intervention, the questionnaire was completed by intervention groups and two months later by all participants. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The change of scores in the knowledge and attitude of pregnant women had a significant difference in all the three groups. At the end of the study, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was noted in the knowledge between the intervention and the control groups. The change in the attitude was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Anticipatory guidance led to change in the score of knowledge about infant and toddler's oral health in intervention groups compared to control group. The direct presentation had superiority over indirect presentation in increasing knowledge about their oral health care. Dentists should do their utmost to educate parents especially the pregnant mothers on children's oral health in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner, as oral health literacy is, ultimately, a pathway to health equity.