Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39266400›Full record

ArticleInternational dental journal2025

Oral Health Status and Dental Services Utilisation Among a Vulnerable Sample of Pregnant Women.

Yasaman Mohammadi Kamalabadi, M Karen Campbell, Robert Gratton, Abbas Jessani

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in International dental journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Yasaman Mohammadi KamalabadiDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
M Karen CampbellDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
Robert GrattonDepartment of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Abbas JessaniDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Dentistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: abbas.jessani@schulich.uwo.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND

aimsOral health conditions during pregnancy can negatively impact both mother and fetus, highlighting the importance of maintaining dental care. In Canada, significant disparities exist between general and dental healthcare access, with limited evidence on oral health status and dental care utilisation among pregnant women. This study aimed to provide initial insights into self-perceived oral health status and dental utilisation patterns among a vulnerable sample of pregnant women in southwestern Ontario.

methodsThis cross-sectional study recruited a convenient sample of pregnant women referred to the Family Medicine and Obstetrics Clinic, serving those without a family physician. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Canadian Health Measure Survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey, and the Survey of Maternal Health. Andersen and Newman's framework for health service utilisation was used as the theoretical framework. Descriptive and univariable analyses were conducted, followed by a forward stepwise selection of variables with p-values < 0.1 from the univariable analyses.

resultsOne-hundred-fifty patients were approached and 130 (86.7%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 96 (73.9%) reported their oral health as good/excellent while 34 (26.2%) reported having poor/fair oral health. Education level and quality of life were the strongest predictors of oral health status. While 101 (77.7%) visited a dentist within the last 2 years, only 35 (26.9%) had a dental visit during pregnancy. Toothbrushing frequency was the main predictor of time since last dental visit, with no other predictive factors once toothbrushing was considered.

conclusionThe study sample showed relatively positive self-perceived oral health and dental visit patterns. However, the low rate of dental visits during pregnancy highlights the need for better integration of dental care into prenatal care. To ensure maternal and child health, pregnant women should be a high priority in policies aimed at improving access to dental care.

Indexed as

Dental CareOral HealthPatient Acceptance of Health CareAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHealth StatusHumansOntarioPregnancyPregnant PeopleQuality of LifeSurveys and QuestionnairesVulnerable PopulationsYoung AdultDental careHealthcare utilisationOral healthPregnancyPublic health

Identifiers

PMID39266400
PMCPMC11976473

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.