Factors influencing adoption of oral health promotion by antenatal care providers in Moyo district, North-Western Uganda

BACKGROUND: Oral health promotion (OHP) during pregnancy is an important global public health and basic human right issue related to quality of life. Several statements and guidelines have been published emphasizing the need for improved oral health care of pregnant mothers, prenatal care providers have missed this critical opportunity. In this study, we assessed factors influencing adoption of oral health promotion by antenatal care providers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study design that employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analysis. 152 samples determined using Yamane’s 1967 and stratified sampling technique was used. Three FGDs and six KI interviews were held. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were done using SPSS (20.0) and ATLAS Ti for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Adoption of OHP was low 28% (42). Factors influencing adoption were age of respondents (OR = 0.066, 95%CI = 0.009–0.465, p = 0.006*), level of care of health facility (OR = 0.050, 95%CI = 0.008–0.322, p = 0.002*), good understanding between dentists and ANC providers (OR = 0.283, 95%CI = 0.084–0.958, p = 0.042*), availability of practice guideline for OHP in ANC (OR = 0.323, 95%CI = 0.108–0.958, p = 0.043*), number of years at work (p = 0.084), being knowledgeable (OR = 2.143, 95%CI = 0.864–5.311, p = 0.100), having skills to advance OHP(OR = 0.734, 95%CI = 0.272–1.984, p = 0.542), Management being good at influencing new practices (OR = 00.477.734, 95%CI = 0.227–2.000, p = 0.477). More emphasis on national and local of oral health issues, continuous staff training on oral health, dissemination of National oral health policy (NOHP) were some of key issues that emerged from the qualitative results. CONCLUSION: Adoption of OHP was low. This was attributed to age, number of years spent at work, level of health facility, having good understanding between dentists and ANC providers, availability of practice guidelines, dissemination of National oral health policy, continuous staff training. We recommend the current NOHP to be reviewed, develop prenatal OHC guidelines, enhance the capacity of ANC providers through training, collaboration with dentists and launch official adoption of OHP.