Prevalence of dental anxiety and its relationship to socioeconomic factors among pregnant women from Joao Pessoa, Brazil

Authors

  • Izaura Helena Chaves de Meneses Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa
  • Bruno Silva Mesquita Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa
  • Talitha Rodrigues Ribeiro Fernandes Pessoa Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa
  • Isabela Albuquerque Passos Farias Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa

Keywords:

pregnancy, anxiety, oral health, family health, socioeconomic factors, primary health care.

Abstract

Objectives: determine the prevalence and level of dental anxiety among pregnant women from Joao Pessoa, Brazil, and analyze its relationship to socioeconomic factors.
Methods: the sample consisted of 360 pregnant women registered with Family Health Units in the city of Joao Pessoa, Brazil. The study was based on the Dental Anxiety Scale and a structured questionnaire through which socioeconomic factors were surveyed. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, with a significance of 5 %.
Results: the prevalence of anxiety among pregnant women was 96.4%. Most (41,1 %) showed high anxiety levels (p < 0,001). The mean age of mothers was 23,4 ± 5,9 years. As to marital status, most mothers were married (35 %). Average family income was 610,07, with 92,% below two minimum salaries. A total 89 patients (24,7 %) were in their first quarter, whereas most (47,8 %) were in their second quarter (p > 0,05).
Conclusion: most women had high level anxiety. The socioeconomic factors studied did not show any association with the presence of anxiety. The study revealed the importance of dental care during pregnancy and the measures aimed at reducing dental anxiety.

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Author Biographies

Izaura Helena Chaves de Meneses, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa

Curso de Odontologia, Centro Universitário de João Pessoa, UNIPÊ

Bruno Silva Mesquita, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa

Curso de Odontologia, Centro Universitário de João Pessoa, UNIPÊ

Talitha Rodrigues Ribeiro Fernandes Pessoa, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa

Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Social, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brasil.

Isabela Albuquerque Passos Farias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa

Centro Universitário de João Pessoa, UNIPÊ e Departamento de Odontologia Restauradora da Universidade Fedetal da Paraíba, UFPB

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Published

2014-08-16

How to Cite

1.
Meneses IHC de, Mesquita BS, Pessoa TRRF, Farias IAP. Prevalence of dental anxiety and its relationship to socioeconomic factors among pregnant women from Joao Pessoa, Brazil. Rev Cubana Estomatol [Internet]. 2014 Aug. 16 [cited 2025 Mar. 13];51(2):8-13. Available from: https://revestomatologia.sld.cu/index.php/est/article/view/21

Issue

Vol. 51 No. 2 (2014): APR- JUN

Section

Research Article

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