Implementation of Oral Health Education Program for Undergraduate Midwives at Omdurman Midwifery School, Sudan

Hamid Sara, Shah Henal, Wells Ray.

Abstract

Background: Oral health care during pregnancy is important for the health of the mother and child. However, pregnant women have limited knowledge about maternal oral health and rarely ask for dental care. Midwives may play an important role in oral health promotion of pregnant women, as they are in close contact with them.

Objective: To improve midwives oral health knowledge, confidence and skills and to prepare them to assess the oral health and refer when required Design: Pre-test post-test design involving 50 final year midwives purposively recruited from Omdurman Midwifery School- Sudan. The questionnaire contained 24 knowledge items as well as items exploring confidence of midwives in promoting oral health.

Findings: The result showed improvement in the oral health knowledge of the midwives after completion of the program. The majority also reported being confident in introducing oral health in an antenatal care (88%) and referring women to dental services (80%) after undertaking the education program.

Conclusion: This education module is useful to equip midwives with necessary knowledge and skills to promote oral health during pregnancy and consequently they can transfer their knowledge to the pregnant women.