The Impact of Oral Health on Low-Income Pregnant Women living in the United States

Presenter and Co-Authors

Olivia Ward, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Jill Jacobs Diss, Old Dominion UniversityFollow

College

College of Health Sciences

Department

Community & Environmental Health

Graduate Level

Master’s

Graduate Program/Concentration

Masters of Public Health: Health Promotion and Behavior

Publication Date

2022

DOI

10.25883/smeq-am69

Abstract

Introduction: Oral health has a significant impact on pregnancy outcomes. Inter-professional collaboration can assist in bridging the gap between oral and systemic health and assist in optimizing the health of low-income pregnant women, infants, and children.

Methods: A literature review was used to ascertain the impact of oral health on adverse pregnancy outcomes. Research sources used in this literature review were gathered from the U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, PubMed, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Elsevier, Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), the Office of the Surgeon General, and Google Scholars. Inclusion criteria were pregnant women.

Results: Poor dental health during pregnancy can contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes and contributes to early childhood caries. Conversely, many systemic diseases can present oral signs and symptoms. Low-income women are disproportionately affected due to limited or no access to oral health care through their health insurance, or due to poor quality health care. The socio-ecological model was used to identify factors that affect oral health at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and public policy levels.

Discussion: Studies have shown that inter-professional collaboration with health care professionals and other non-dental professionals can improve pregnant women’s oral health. Prenatal care that includes oral health screening, education, and referrals can mitigate the risk of oral diseases during pregnancy and the postpartum period. A systems change approach can be utilized to create a collaborative effort in addressing this public health issue.

Keywords

Inter-professional collaboration, Postpartum, Oral health, Systemic health, Adverse pregnancy outcomes, Low-income pregnant women, Prenatal care

Disciplines

Dental Hygiene | Dental Public Health and Education | Maternal and Child Health

Files

Recommended Citation

Ward, Olivia and Diss, Jill Jacobs, "The Impact of Oral Health on Low-Income Pregnant Women living in the United States" (2022). College of Health Sciences Posters. 2.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/gradposters2022_healthsciences/2