ISSN 2736-1594
International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2736-1594, Vol. 14 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
From Knowledge to Practice: Maternal Feeding Choices and Children’s Oral Health
Luciana Reichert da Silva Assunção1*, Karina Duarte Vilella1, Jéssica Ellen Araújo1, Maria Fernanda Pivetta Petinati1, Débora Emi Shibukawa2, Isabella Naomi Furuie2 and Elaine Machado Benelli3
1Department of Stomatology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Jardim Botânico, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
2Medical School, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Alto da Glória, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Jardim das Américas, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Accepted 20 August, 2025
The aim of the present study was to analyze the intentions and knowledge of mothers in the postpartum period regarding the feeding habits and oral health of their children. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 286 mothers at a teaching hospital in Southern Brazil. The variables of interest were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Knowledge scores were analyzed numerically and dichotomized as adequate (score: >5) or poor (score: ≤5). Bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses were performed and score ratios (SR) with respective confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Most respondents were less than 25 years of age (55.6%), first-time mothers (56.4%) and demonstrated positive intentions regarding the majority of the aspects addressed. However, 65.4% of the sample demonstrated poor knowledge. Younger mothers, those with a lower income, those with less schooling, first-timers and those who reported intending to use sugar demonstrated less knowledge. Gathering information from the internet was associated with higher knowledge. The multivariate model revealed significant associations with having a university education (SR=1.23; CI: 1.12 to 1.35), having a high school education (SR=1.10; CI: 1.03 to 1.19), gathering information from the internet (SR=1.18; CI: 1.07 to 1.30), having given birth more than once (SR=1.13; CI: 1.06 to 1.21) and intending not to use sugar (SR=1.14; CI: 1.03 to 1.26). Schooling, number of child births, means of information and the use of sugar were independently associated with the knowledge score. There is a need to provide oral health education for women during the postpartum period in order to benefit oral health for both the mother and the baby.
Key words: Feeding behavior, infant, knowledge, mothers, oral health, postpartum period.