OBJECTIVES: The objective of this qualitative study was to obtain information on low-income women's knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding oral heath during pregnancy and for infant care. METHODS: A professional focus group moderator conducted four focus groups (n=34) among low-income women in Maryland who were either pregnant or had children aged two and younger. Purposeful sampling and qualitative content analysis were employed. RESULTS: Women were reasonably well informed about oral health practices for themselves and their children; however, important myths and misperceptions were common. Several themes emerged; a central one being that most women had not received oral health information in time to apply it according to recommended practice. CONCLUSIONS: The focus groups with low-income women provided rich and insightful information and implications for future communication strategies to help prevent dental diseases among pregnant women and their infants.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this qualitative study was to obtain information on low-income women's knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding oral heath during pregnancy and for infant care. METHODS: A professional focus group moderator conducted four focus groups (n=34) among low-income women in Maryland who were either pregnant or had children aged two and younger. Purposeful sampling and qualitative content analysis were employed. RESULTS:Women were reasonably well informed about oral health practices for themselves and their children; however, important myths and misperceptions were common. Several themes emerged; a central one being that most women had not received oral health information in time to apply it according to recommended practice. CONCLUSIONS: The focus groups with low-income women provided rich and insightful information and implications for future communication strategies to help prevent dental diseases among pregnant women and their infants.
Authors: Neel Shimpi; Ingrid Glurich; Catherine Maybury; Min Qi Wang; Kazumasa Hashimoto; Amit Acharya; Alice M Horowitz Journal: J Prim Care Community Health Date: 2021 Jan-Dec