Knowledge of pregnant women about the neonatal tongue screening test

Abstract Introduction The early diagnosis and treatment of ankyloglossia in infants favors the adequate development of orofacial functions. The knowledge about the tongue screening test (TL) may disseminate its realization. Objective The aim of this study was to verify the knowledge about the neonatal tongue screening test (TL) and its relation with the sociodemographic profile of pregnant women. Materials and method A total of 427 pregnant women receiving prenatal care at a school hospital in southern Brazil from May to December 2017 were investigated. The information was collected through an individual questionnaire containing information about the pregnant woman's sociodemographic profile and gestational characteristics and knowledge about the TL. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and the associations performed with the chi-square test. Result The results showed that 33 (7.7%) of the pregnant women knew and 45 (10.5%) had misinformation about the TL. Pregnant women with higher education (p=0.028) and higher family income (p=0.002) were more likely to know the test. Nursing professionals were the main providers of the information (64.1%). Conclusion It is possible to conclude that the knowledge of pregnant women about the TL is superficial, especially among those with lower schooling and income, and it emphasizes the need for public strategies focused on improving health care offered to the mother-baby binomial.