Prenatal Oral Health for Black Women

Prenatal oral care is a huge concern due to hormonal changes women undergo during pregnancy, during which pregnant women become susceptible to many oral diseases, such as periodontal disease. Disparities in oral health often affect women who fall into these categories: low-income, uninsured, and minority ethnic/racial groups. Having limited knowledge and a lack of access are significant contributing factors to the adverse effects of pregnancies. This qualitative phenomenological study aims to understand the perspectives of pregnant Black women and dental health care providers with oral health knowledge, oral health practices, insurance, and dental visits. Additionally, it offers perspectives of health care providers and minority pregnant women on how improvements to their dental care and hygiene can be enhanced.

A purposive sample of 10 participants, including five prenatal Black women and five health/dental providers, was recruited from New Orleans Public Health members and national medical and dental school networks. Qualitative data were collected through open-ended Zoom interviews with five Black women who were pregnant during 2020- 2022, and with five practicing physicians and dentists. Understanding why oral diseases affect this underserved population at high rates can help improve the practices in place.

Overall themes of concern were oral health education, additional oral health training for health care providers, including cultural competencies, and improved insurance practices.

Findings suggest increasing educational awareness for health care providers and Black pregnant women can help reduce oral diseases, while enhancing insurance practices can give this underserved population a holistic care approach.