Resumo

DE LIMA TARGINO MASSONI, Andreza Cristina et al. Perceptions of pregnant and puerperal women on children's oral health: the influence of sociodemographic conditions. RFO UPF [online]. 2016, vol.21, n.3, pp. 318-324. ISSN 1413-4012.

Objective: to verify the association between sociodemographic conditions and the perception of pregnant and puerperal women on the oral health of their children. Subjects and method: cross-sectional census study conducted with 100 pregnant and puerperal women, assisted at the reference public maternity in northeastern Brazil. Data were collected by interview. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics through the chi-square test (α=0.05). Result: the women investigated showed a considerable knowledge about children's oral health. Additionally, considering sociodemographic variables, the level of education of mothers was associated with the time to start oral care (p=0.03). Family income was associated with oral hygiene before dental eruption (p=0.03) and the time to start oral care (p=0.04). The main doubt of mothers on the subject regarded the appropriate form of children's oral hygiene (40.6%). As a suggestion to access information, they mainly proposed holding talks in the waiting room of the medical assistance services (23.0%). Conclusion: the mothers showed considerable understanding of the topic. Regarding sociodemographic data, maternal level of education was associated with the start of their children's oral care, while income was associated with oral hygiene before dental eruption and time to star oral care.

Palavras-chave : Pregnant Women; Oral Health; Social Conditions; Dental Education.