Oral Health status of Pregnant women in Ilorin.

Abstract

Oral diseases have been shown to negatively affect pregnancy outcomes, yet, a routine oral health care is not a component of the antenatal care package in Nigeria. This study was designed to describe the pattern of the oral conditions in pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant controls. Two hundred and twenty-five pregnant women and 166 non-pregnant controls were studied from two health care facilities in Ilorin. Oral related complaints were assessed in the pregnant population while both of the groups had an oral cavity examination. The mean age of the respondents was 28.24 years ± 4.77 and 80% had at least a secondary school level of education. The prevalence of oral complaints among the pregnant women was 19.1%. Gingivitis was commoner among the pregnant women than the non-pregnant women, and more demonstrable on examination. Oral health care should be a component of the antenatal care in our environment.