Characteristics of pregnant women (n = 405).

Background
Oral healthcare behavior leads to oral health status. Factors associated with oral healthcare behavior might affect oral hygiene in pregnant women, who are at high risk for gingivitis and dental caries. This study aimed to explore factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors during pregnancy among pregnant women in a northeastern province of Thailand.
Method
A total of 405 pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinics at one of the government hospitals in the province were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Dentists in the hospitals measured pregnant women’s gingivitis and dental calculus status using mouth mirrors and explorers. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain variables of interest. Linear regression analysis, Beta and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied.
Results
The majority were 20–24 years old (33.6%). Most of the participants had received upper secondary education (37.6%). Majority had gingivitis (88.1%) and dental calculus (88.6%). The findings revealed that age (Beta = -0.129, 95%CI = -0.269, -0.016), educational level (Beta = 0.118, 95% CI = 0.110, 0.183), and oral health literacy (Beta = 0.283, 95% CI = 0.156, 0.319) were statistically significant factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors.
Conclusion
Younger pregnant women had better oral healthcare behaviors than older pregnant women and pregnant women had better oral healthcare behaviors due to higher educational levels and oral health literacy. Oral health promotion should be improved through oral health literacy, and interventions should be added to improve oral care skills particularly in older pregnant women as they are at a greater risk for poor oral healthcare behaviors.

研究背景
口腔保健行为直接决定口腔健康状况。与口腔保健行为相关的各类因素可能会影响孕妇的口腔卫生水平，而孕妇本身是牙龈炎与龋齿的高发人群。本研究旨在探讨泰国东北部某省份孕妇妊娠期口腔保健行为的相关影响因素。

研究方法
本横断面研究共邀请该省某公立医院产前保健门诊的405名孕妇参与。院内牙医使用口镜与牙科探针对孕妇的牙龈炎及牙结石状况进行临床评估。采用结构化问卷采集本研究所需的目标变量数据。分析过程采用线性回归分析，报告标准化回归系数（Beta）及95%置信区间（confidence interval，CI）。

研究结果
研究对象中，年龄以20~24岁群体占比最高，达33.6%。多数研究对象接受过高中及以上教育（37.6%）。大部分孕妇存在牙龈炎（88.1%）与牙结石问题（88.6%）。研究结果显示，年龄（Beta=-0.129，95%置信区间=-0.269~-0.016）、受教育程度（Beta=0.118，95%置信区间=0.110~0.183）及口腔健康素养（Beta=0.283，95%置信区间=0.156~0.319）均为与妊娠期口腔保健行为显著相关的影响因素，且具有统计学意义。

研究结论
相较于高龄孕妇，年轻孕妇的口腔保健行为表现更佳；受教育程度更高、口腔健康素养更好的孕妇，其口腔保健行为也更为规范。应通过提升口腔健康素养来优化口腔健康促进工作，同时需针对高龄孕妇制定专项干预措施以改善其口腔护理技能，因该群体出现不良口腔保健行为的风险更高。