Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal en gestantes en el área metropolitana de Bucaramanga

Abstract

Introduction. During pregnancy, women often neglect their oral health, which can have negative consequences for themselves and their babies. This study investigates how oral health affects the quality of life of pregnant women and highlights the importance of proper oral care during this period. Objective. To investigate the relationship between oral health and the quality of life of pregnant women who visited hospitals in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga in 2023. Methodology. This research is considered an analytical cross-sectional observational study. The questionnaire was administered in three hospitals involving 120 pregnant women. This was done to assess demographic and health variables and conduct statistical analysis. Results. Of the 120 surveyed pregnant women, the majority were from middle and high socioeconomic groups, with an average age of 30 years, and were in their third trimester of pregnancy. When analyzing the results of the OHIP-7, it was found that in the dimensions of "difficulty doing work, poor digestion, interrupted sleep, dental problems, misunderstandings, and functionality," the most prevalent response was "never/almost never," while in the "sensitivity" variable, the most frequent response was "high." Conclusion. During pregnancy, women often face a variety of problems, although most of them are uncommon. However, correlating these problems with quality of life measured through the WHO-QOL-BREF questionnaire, it was found that better oral health leads to higher quality of life.