Knowledge of Periodontal Diseases, Oral Hygiene Practices, and Self-Reported Periodontal Problems among Pregnant Women and Postnatal Mothers Attending Reproductive and Child Health Clinics in Rural Zambia
Table 5
Bivariate analysis: self-reported gum bleeding in relation to sociodemographic factors, knowledge, oral hygiene practices, and self-assessed periodontal status.
Characteristics of the study participants
Whole sample ()
Self-reported gum bleeding
χ2 value
value
Yes
No
%
%
%
Maternal status
Had pregnancy
270
65.9
63
66.3
207
65.7
0.012
0.914
Sociodemographic factors
Age 25–45 years (not 15–24 years)
203
49.5
56
58.9
147
46.7
4.404
0.036
Had primary education or less
238
58.0
62
65.3
176
55.9
2.643
0.104
Not employed or have petty business
302
73.7
64
67.4
238
75.6
2.521
0.112
Knowledge: lack of knowledge
Have not heard about plaque
130
31.7
35
36.8
95
30.2
1.506
0.220
Have not heard about calculus
158
38.1
41
43.2
117
37.1
1.115
0.291
On causes of periodontal diseases
146
46.6
37
52.1
109
45.0
1.103
0.294
That PD presents with gum bleeding
19
7.4
2
3.4
17
8.6
1.723
0.189
That PD presents with gum swelling
34
13.3
5
8.6
29
14.6
1.414
0.234
That PD presents with reddish gums
39
15.2
5
8.6
34
17.2
2.540
0.111
That calculus can be removed
107
42.5
27
50.0
80
40.4
1.599
0.206
That good oral hygiene can prevent PD
37
14.6
5
8.8
32
16.2
1.983
0.159
That eating balanced diet can prevent PD
119
46.3
19
32.8
100
50.3
5.527
0.019
That visiting a dentist can prevent PD
49
19.1
8
13.8
41
20.7
1.386
0.239
Oral hygiene practices
Not using plastic toothbrush
18
4.4
7
7.4
11
3.5
2.613
0.106
Not changing toothbrush 1–3 months
145
35.4
47
49.5
98
31.1
10.766
0.001
Uses toothpick
50
12.2
17
17.9
33
10.5
3.751
0.053
Self-reported periodontal problems
Had swollen gums
45
11.0
36
37.9
9
2.9
91.703
<0.001
Had reddish gums
43
10.5
32
33.7
11
3.5
70.871
<0.001
Had painful gums
65
15.9
46
48.4
19
6.0
98.310
<0.001
Had shaky teeth
14
3.4
10
10.5
4
1.3
18.812
<0.001
#Each condition presented in this table has basically ““Yes and No” alternatives with numerical values corresponding to each individual situation. Only the numerical values corresponding to “Yes” have been presented in this table and the counterpart alternative (“No”) numerical values have been left out. For example, if have swollen gums (“Yes versus No”), only the numerical values for “Yes” have been presented in this table while the ones corresponding to “No” have been left out; PD = periodontal diseases.
