FONSECA, Bruna Basso; WAPNIARZ, Rayza Santiago    TORRES-PEREIRA, Cassius Carvalho. Attitudes and access to information on oral health of a group of pregnant adolescents. Rev. Assoc. Paul. Cir. Dent. []. 2014, 68, 3, pp. 254-258. ISSN 0004-5276.

Aim: Evaluate the knowledge of pregnant adolescents about oral health and some indicators of access to dental care. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was designed. The data were collected through a questionnaire developed for this study with 38 pregnant adolescents, conducted from May to December 2011 at a Hospital in the city of Curitiba, southern Brazil. Results: The mean age of the sample was 15.5, the majority (n = 22) in the third trimester pregnancy. Most of the respondents visited the dentist during pregnancy, 55% (n = 21) and 45% (n = 17) said they had received guidance concerning oral care. However, only three women said they had received some type of instructional material such as brochures or leaflets. Regarding oral health during pregnancy, 81% (n = 31) reported they have not changed their hygiene habits, and 74% (n = 28) of teenagers said they have noticed significant changes in the mucosa. Only 25% (n = 9) said they know how to take care of their future baby's mouth and teeth. Conclusion: Although most adolescents have seen a dentist during pregnancy, there was poor oral care knowledge and a great need to increase the amount of information and access to oral health in this group.

: pregnancy; adolescent; oral health; health services accessibility public health dentistry.