Changes, Desire, Fear and Beliefs
Women’s Feelings and Perceptions About Dental Care During Pregnancy
Bibliographic Data
Oral health during pregnancy is essential for maternal and child well-being, as hormonal and physiological changes increase women's susceptibility to oral diseases. Despite the recognized importance of prenatal dental care, adherence to dental services remains a challenge in the public health context. This study aimed to analyze oral health and the use of dental services during pregnancy through the perception of pregnant women. It represents the qualitative phase of a mixed-method study conducted with 25 pregnant women (with and without dental care) receiving prenatal care in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Participants were selected through saturation sampling, and data were collected via semi-structured interviews, followed by content analysis. The findings revealed four major themes: barriers and facilitators to dental care, changes during pregnancy and oral health. Discomfort from oral changes was a common concern. Barriers included misinformation, fear, cultural beliefs, and service organization. In contrast, facilitating factors were identified, such as care prioritization, support from healthcare teams, health education, and access through SUS. This study concludes that emotional, cultural, and contextual aspects shape the use of dental services during pregnancy. Access through SUS is perceived as an important facilitator, which simultaneously presents organizational weaknesses that need to be addressed
Context (archaeology · Environmental health · Facilitator · Family medicine · Family planning · Feeling · Health care · Population · Pregnancy · Prenatal care · Qualitative research · Unintended pregnancy · Cleft Lip and Palate Research · Dental Health and Care Utilization · Medicine · Nursing · Oral microbiology and periodontitis research · Psychology · Social Psychology
Qualitative content analysis in nursing research
Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (Coreq)
Acesso e utilização de serviços odontológicos por gestantes
Educação em saúde como estratégia de promoção de saúde bucal em gestantes
Barriers and facilitators to dental care during pregnancy
| Citation velocity | historical |
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| Highly cited | No |