Determinants of Tooth Brushing Behavior among Pregnant Women: An Application of the Pender’s Health Promotion Model

Aims: It is very important to maintain oral health during pregnancy because it has short- and long-term effects on the health of women and children. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting tooth brushing behavior among pregnant women based on Pender’s Health Promotion Model. Instruments Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed on 275 pregnant women under the coverage of the health centers of Arak, Iran, selected by cluster sampling method in 2021. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which was constructed and validated in this study. The questionnaire contained items about demographic variables and Health Promotion Model constructs. Data were analyzed in SPSS 18 software using regression models. Findings: The mean age of participants was 29.67±5.54. Only 24% of pregnant women brushed twice a day or more. Perceived Self-efficacy (β=0.157, p=0.020), perceived barriers of action (β= -0.138, p=0.049), and interpersonal influence (modeling) (β=0.188, p=0.002) had significant relationships with commitment to a plan of action. The pregnant women who had more self-efficacy (OR: 1.114, 95% CI: 1.012-1.225) and more commitment to a plan of action (OR: 1.802, 95% CI: 1.509-2.153) were more likely to brush their teeth twice or more a day. Conclusion: Perceived self-efficacy and commitment to a plan of action are determinant factors of brushing behavior in pregnant women based on Pender’s Health Promotion Model.