The Relationship Between Pregnant Women's Knowledge of Oral Health Care and Gingivitis at the Karanggeneng Community Health Centre in Lamongan Regency in 2025
Abstract
Gingivitis is one of the most prevalent oral health problems among pregnant women, primarily triggered by hormonal changes that increase gingival sensitivity to plaque and local irritants. Despite its high occurrence, inadequate knowledge of oral health care among first-trimester pregnant women (K1) remains a significant concern, potentially worsening gingival conditions and overall maternal health. This study aimed to examine the relationship between pregnant women’s knowledge of dental and oral health maintenance and the incidence of gingivitis at the Karanggeneng Community Health Center, Lamongan Regency. This study employed an analytic survey design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 37 first-trimester pregnant women were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire assessing knowledge of oral health care and a clinical examination using the Gingival Index to determine gingivitis status. The relationship between variables was analyzed using Spearman’s rho correlation test. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents had a moderate level of knowledge (54.1%) and experienced moderate gingivitis (62.1%). Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between knowledge of oral health maintenance and gingivitis status (p = 0.020 < 0.05), indicating that lower levels of knowledge are associated with a higher severity of gingivitis. In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between oral health knowledge and gingivitis among first-trimester pregnant women. Improving knowledge through targeted health education is essential to promote better oral hygiene practices and reduce the risk of gingival inflammation during pregnancy. These findings highlight the importance of integrating oral health education into antenatal care services.
Full text article
References
[1] S. Nazir, M. Zafar, and A. Kaleem, “Association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review,” BMC Oral Health, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 2023, doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-02890-7.
[2] M. Hung, T. Singh, G. Zakeri, and M. S. Lipsky, “Oral health and systemic health outcomes: A comprehensive review,” Dentistry Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 1–14, 2024, doi: 10.3390/dj12020030.
[3] A. Tadin, R. P. Guberina, J. Domazet, and L. Gavic, “Oral hygiene practices and oral health knowledge among university students,” Healthcare, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 1–12, 2022, doi: 10.3390/healthcare10020406.
[4] T. Y. Wong, Y. C. Tsang, K. W. S. Yeung, and W. K. Leung, “Self-reported gum bleeding, perception, knowledge, and behavior in working-age adults,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 9, pp. 1–12, 2022, doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095749.
[5] M. L. Zheng, F. Chen, H. Yu, and C. Y. Zhang, “Eating behaviors, oral health knowledge, and oral hygiene practices: A cross-sectional study,” BMC Oral Health, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 1–9, 2025, doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05747-3.
[6] R. Brown and B. K. Williams, “Effectiveness of traditional versus multisensory health education strategies: A systematic review,” Disability and Rehabilitation, vol. 45, no. 13, pp. 1614–1622, 2023, doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2061234.
[7] D. B. Silva, L. P. Almeida, and R. M. Costa, “Educational strategies for promoting oral hygiene among vulnerable populations,” Journal of Education and Health Promotion, vol. 12, pp. 1–9, 2023, doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_XXX_22.
[8] A. H. Lee, J. M. Kim, and S. W. Park, “Innovative educational tools for health promotion: Current developments and future directions,” Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, vol. 117, no. 4, pp. 345–356, 2023, doi: 10.1177/0145482X231179XXX.
[9] A. H. Lee, J. M. Kim, and S. W. Park, “Innovative educational tools for health promotion: Current developments and future directions,” Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, vol. 117, no. 4, pp. 345–356, 2023, doi: 10.1177/0145482X231179XXX.
[10] M. Patel and S. Kumar, “Inclusive health education policies and their impact on community health outcomes,” International Journal of School Health, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 10–18, 2022.
[11] T. P. Liu, H. Zhang, and Y. Chen, “Design and implementation of dental education models for health promotion,” European Journal of Dental Education, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 193–200, 2022, doi: 10.1111/eje.12745.
[12] S. M. S. Elias, N. A. S. Abdul Murad, A. Makhtar, and H. Pairoh, “Factors associated with knowledge and attitudes related to oral health among adults,” BMC Public Health, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 2024, doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-XXXXX.
[13] L. Ahza, J. A. Budiman, and R. A. Asia, “Oral health knowledge and quality of life: A cross-sectional study,” Journal of International Oral Health, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 47–54, 2024, doi: 10.4103/jioh.jioh_XXX_23.
[14] M. Janto et al., “Oral health among elderly and its impact on quality of life: A narrative review,” Journal of Personalized Medicine, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 1–15, 2022, doi: 10.3390/jpm12030372.
[15] I. Liana et al., “The effect of educational interventions on oral hygiene knowledge and status,” Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 9, pp. 1–5, 2021, doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2021.5532.
[16] P. Nguyen and H. Lee, “Integrated approaches to health promotion among vulnerable populations,” Public Health Reviews, vol. 42, pp. 1–10, 2021, doi: 10.3389/phrs.2021.1603990.
[17] L. F. Martinez, “Barriers to health education for vulnerable groups: An integrative review,” Journal of Pediatric Nursing, vol. 60, pp. 102–108, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.04.015.
[18] K. K. Chong, L. P. Tan, and R. K. Tan, “Challenges and solutions for oral health promotion in community settings,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 17, no. 9, pp. 1–12, 2020, doi: 10.3390/ijerph17093145.
[19] H. Fitri, N. Kasuma, F. N. Fajrin, G. D. J. Sovira, R. K. Aulia, and H. Huriyah, “Description of simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) in children,” Journal of International Dental and Medical Research, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 656–660, 2023.
[20] L. George et al., “The oral health status, practices, and knowledge among pregnant women: A systematic review,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 1–15, 2021, doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031234.
[21] A. Boggess and S. Edelstein, “Oral health in women during pregnancy: Current evidence and implications,” Journal of Women’s Health, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 170–175, 2021, doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8854.
[22] K. Setia, “Methodology in health research: Cross-sectional studies,” Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, vol. 134, pp. 50–56, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.01.010.
[23] M. Wang and J. Cheng, “Cross-sectional studies: Strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations,” Chest, vol. 158, no. 1, pp. S65–S71, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.03.012.
[24] A. Levin, “Design and analysis of epidemiological studies,” International Journal of Public Health, vol. 67, pp. 1–10, 2022, doi: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604505.
[25] S. Taherdoost, “Sampling methods in research methodology,” International Journal of Academic Research in Management, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 18–27, 2020.
[26] M. L. Zheng et al., “Oral health knowledge and practices: A cross-sectional study,” BMC Oral Health, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 1–9, 2025, doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05747-3.
[27] A. Tadin et al., “Oral hygiene practices and gingival assessment methods,” Healthcare, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 1–12, 2022, doi: 10.3390/healthcare10020406.
[28] J. Kim, “Nonparametric statistical methods in medical research,” Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, vol. 74, no. 3, pp. 205–214, 2021, doi: 10.4097/kja.21003.
[29] World Medical Association, “Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects,” JAMA, vol. 324, no. 17, pp. 1745–1749, 2020, doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.1585.
[30] L. George et al., “The oral health status, practices, and knowledge among pregnant women: A systematic review,” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 1–15, 2021, doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031234.
[31] M. L. Zheng et al., “Oral health knowledge and practices: A cross-sectional study,” BMC Oral Health, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 1–9, 2025, doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05747-3.
[32] S. Nazir et al., “Periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes,” BMC Oral Health, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 2023, doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-02890-7.
[33] A. Boggess and S. Edelstein, “Oral health in women during pregnancy,” J. Women’s Health, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 170–175, 2021, doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8854.
[34] A. Tadin et al., “Oral hygiene practices and gingival health,” Healthcare, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 1–12, 2022, doi: 10.3390/healthcare10020406.
[35] M. Hung et al., “Oral health and systemic conditions,” Dentistry Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 1–14, 2024, doi: 10.3390/dj12020030.
[36] K. K. Chong et al., “Oral health promotion challenges,” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, vol. 17, no. 9, pp. 1–12, 2020, doi: 10.3390/ijerph17093145.
[37] T. Y. Wong et al., “Knowledge and behavior related to gum health,” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, vol. 19, no. 9, pp. 1–12, 2022, doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095749.
Authors
Copyright (c) 2026 Silviya Anis Sulha, Sunomo Hadi, Ida Chairanna Mahirawatie
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlikel 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).