Effect of the healthcare for newly wedded programme on the utilization of oral health services among married women before their first pregnancy in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Oral health denotes an important perspective of health for women. The Healthcare for Newly Wedded Programme (HNWP) has a major role on improving oral health among married women before their first pregnancy.
Objectives: To assess the utilization of oral health services and effect of the HNWP on the utilization of oral health services among married women before their first pregnancy in Kalutara District.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was done among 820 married women before their first pregnancy in Kalutara District. The sample was obtained by two-stage cluster sampling method based on probability-proportionate-tosize technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and an oral health assessment form were used for data collection. Categorical data were presented as percentages with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Bivariate analysis was done for comparisons and multivariate analysis was done to adjust for confounders.
Results: Only 21.5% of the participants had utilized oral health care services after marriage and 38.5% of women who had perceived dental treatment needs, utilized oral health services. In this context, the most frequent reason for non-attendance was thinking that there was no need for treatment. Participation in the HNWP was significantly associated with the utilization of oral health services (p<0.001), screened for oral diseases (p<0.001) and free of oral diseases (p=0.003). Being referred to a dental clinic was significantly associated with the utilization of oral health services (p=<0.001), screened for oral diseases (p=0.001) and free of oral diseases (p=0.001).
Conclusions & Recommendations: Utilization of oral health services among married women prior to their first pregnancy remained at an unsatisfactory level. The results of the present study indicated that the HNWP is effective in improving utilization of oral health services among them. Therefore, utilization of oral health services among married women before their first pregnancy should be improved through the HNWP.