Resumo

RENGIFO REINA, Herney Alonso. Beliefs about the oral health in pregnant women in three colombian cities. Rev Fac Odontol Univ Antioq [online]. 2009, vol.20, n.2, pp.171-178. ISSN 0121-246X.

INTRODUCTION: the objective of this study was to describe the beliefs about oral health among pregnant women in three Colombia´s cities. METHODS: in an observational descriptive transversal study, a semi structured survey was applied to pregnant women attending pre-natal control at the city´s health service. 441 pregnant women that met the inclusion criteria and who voluntarily accepted to participate, were included in the study. RESULTS: the average age was 22 years; it was found that 96.60% (426) of pregnant women have at least one belief about oral health, and the majority of the women (70%) believed that during pregnancy the baby "steals" calcium from the mother´s teeth and that "at least one tooth is lost in each pregnancy". CONCLUSION: pregnant women have erroneous beliefs that to a great extent influence their behavior towards oral health practices and their demands for dental services. The majority of beliefs are related to the fact that during pregnancy, the baby steals calcium from the mother´s teeth.

Palavras-chave : pregnancy; oral health; beliefs in oral health.

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