Social Support Related to Oral Health Care Behaviors of Pregnant Women in Buengkan Province

Abstract

Oral health care behavior leads to oral health status. Social support related to oral healthcare behavior might affect oral hygiene in pregnant women at high risk for gingivitis and dental caries. This study aimed to describe factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors during pregnancy among pregnant women in Buengkan province of Thailand. Twenty pregnant women attended antenatal care clinics at one of the government hospitals with a purposive sampling method. The qualitative data were analyzed by using a content analysis. The result found that the majority of pregnant women receive support for good oral health from family members or close people together with oral health promotion information and oral self-care skills from dentists, pregnant women's oral health information materials are supported by interesting and reliable health sources, this support may be hampered by some pregnant women's previous bad dental experiences. As a result, social support is important in improving pregnant women's oral health habits and may also include promoting other aspects of their health.