Abstract

RODRIGUEZ, Martha Juliana; MEJIA, Lofthy Piedad; PENALOZA, Eliana Yolanda  and  URUENA, Juliana. Physicians' and obstetricians' knowledge regarding periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Rev. Univ. Ind. Santander. Salud [online]. 2013, vol.45, n.3, pp.25-34. ISSN 0121-0807.

Introduction: Recent studies have related oral diseases with systemic conditions. Specifically, periodontal disease has been associated with preterm birth, low birth weight and preeclampsia. Objective: To assess the physicians' and obstetricians' knowledge and practice behaviors regarding periodontal disease and its role in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A cross sectional study was done. The sample included 139 physicians and 24 obstetricians from the city of Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area, some cities of Santander and Norte de Santander. We used a self-report questionnaire and the population was described according to the nature of the variables, frequencies and proportions for categorical variables, means and standard deviations for quantitative variables. To establish the differences between general practitioners and obstetricians we applied chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Student's t test and the U. Mann Whitney according to the nature and distribution of variables. It was considered a value of p ≤ 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: Physicians and obstetricians definitely felt that periodontal disease may be a risk factor for the health of mother and child, in 66.9% (93) for general practitioners and 75.0% (18) for obstetricians. Similarly, 30.7% (42) of general practitioners and 45.8% (11) of obstetricians related periodontal disease with preterm delivery, low birth weight and preeclampsia. Despite these findings, only 77.4% (106) and 54.2% (13) "always" refer the mother to dental practice. Conclusions: Although participants had knowledge about the topics evaluated, they required a more detailed application of the same to ensure the welfare of mother and child.

Keywords : Periodontal disease; Knowledge; Physicians; Pregnancy.

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