Page 52 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UTILIZATION OF DENTAL SERVICES AMONG
ANTENATAL MOTHERS IN KOTA KINABALU, SABAH
NMRR-19-3373-52040

Norazuwa H, Rathmawati A

Objective: To assess the factors associated with the utilization of dental services among
antenatal mothers in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional
study has been conducted among antenatal mothers and medical nurses at twelve
Ministry of Health maternal health clinics in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from January to
February 2020. Medical nurses were involved to investigate the practices associated with
the utilization of dental services among antenatal mothers. Eligible respondents were
included in the study by using simple random sampling technique. Both questionnaires
for antenatal mothers and nurses were adapted from previous studies. Statistical analysis
was done using IBM SPSS version 24.0. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression
were used. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total number of 461
antenatal mothers and 41 nurses were recruited. The mean (SD) age of the antenatal
mothers and nurses were 29 (5.6) and 38.5 (6.5) years, respectively. Only 25.5% of
antenatal mothers in Kota Kinabalu had at least one dental visit during pregnancy. The
factors related to antenatal mothers are interproximal cleaning practice (AOR = 0.885,
95% CI = 0.033 - 0.198, P = 0.006), sources of payment for antenatal care (AOR = 0.142,
95% CI = 0.026 - 0.257, P = 0.017) and knowledge of the possible connection between oral
health and pregnancy (AOR = 0.799, 95% CI = 0.118 - 0.284, P < 0.001). Nurses that had
previously attended dental health programs related to antenatal mothers (56.1%, AOR =
0.816, 95% CI = 0.004 - 0.364, P = 0.045) and frequently advising antenatal mothers to see
the dentist (92.7%, AOR = 0.848, 95% CI = 0.052 - 0.356, P < 0.001) were more likely to do
the dental referral. Conclusions: The presence of financial sources, interproximal cleaning
habit, and oral health knowledge among antenatal mothers will lead to dental attendance
during pregnancy. Dental health programs for nurses and dental referrals also were found
to significantly contribute to dental attendance during pregnancy.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Oral health, Dental health services

Virtual Clinical Research Poster Presentation at Sabah Research Month 2021 on 15 October 2021
Dr Norazuwa binti Hazman
Luyang Dental Clinic
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Dr Rathmawati binti Ahmad
Sabah State Deputy Director of Health (Oral Health) Office
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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