Background: Oral and dental infections during pregnancy have been associated with adverse obstetric outcomes, including preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, and miscarriage. Awareness of this link among obstetric healthcare professionals is crucial to ensure timely referrals for dental care. This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of obstetric staff in public hospitals in Niamey, Niger. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, multicenter survey was conducted from 31 July to 29 September 2023 across nine public health facilities in Niamey. A structured, pretested questionnaire collected data on stomatology training, ability to recognize oral infections, awareness of their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and referral practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among 124 participants, 55% had never received stomatology training, 75% could not clinically identify oral infections, and only 38% were aware of their potential impact on pregnancy outcomes. Regarding referral practices, 60% had never referred a pregnant woman for dental care, 26% referred only when the patient reported oral problems, and 14% systematically referred for antenatal dental evaluation. Conclusion: Obstetric healthcare professionals in Niamey demonstrate limited awareness and suboptimal referral practices concerning the relationship between oral infections and pregnancy outcomes. Targeted training, integration of oral health into maternal care protocols, and the establishment of standardized referral pathways are needed to improve perinatal outcomes.
Cite this paper
Dandy, M. A. , Rabe, A. H. , Habibou, A. M. , Mainassara, S. C. , Ango, A. B. and Ali, A. (2025). Oral Infections and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Knowledge and Attitude of Obstetric Healthcare Professionals in Public Hospitals of Niamey. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e14126. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1114126.
Saadaoui, M., Singh, P. and Al Khodor, S. (2021) Oral Microbiome and Pregnancy: A Bidirectional Relationship. Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 145, Article 103293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2021.103293
Choudhury, P., Rao, R., Prabhu, S., Srirangarajan, S. and Rudresh, V. (2022) Microorganisms of Maternal Periodontitis Cause Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Gestational Diabetic Individuals: A Preliminary Observational Report. Quintessence International, 53, 850-857.
Thomas, C., Timofeeva, I., Bouchoucha, E., Canceill, T., Champion, C., Groussolles, M., et al. (2023) Oral and Periodontal Assessment at the First Trimester of Pregnancy: The Periscope Longitu-dinal Study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 102, 669-680. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14529
Hasan, M., Tabassum, S., Rafi, K. and Bukhari, S.F. (2024) Perspectives and Practices of Gynecologist’s about Prenatal Oral Health and Association between Periodontal Disease and Adverse Birth Outcomes. Journal of the Pakistan Dental Association, 32, 79-84. https://doi.org/10.25301/jpda.323.79
Offenbacher, S., Katz, V., Fertik, G., Collins, J., Boyd, D., Maynor, G., et al. (1996) Periodontal Infection as a Possible Risk Factor for Preterm Low Birth Weight. Journal of Periodontology, 67, 1103-1113. https://doi.org/10.1902/jop.1996.67.10.1103
Ide, M. and Papapanou, P.N. (2013) Epidemiology of Association be-tween Maternal Periodontal Disease and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes—Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Periodontol-ogy, 40. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.12063
Dieng, S.N., Dieng, A., Diop, M., Kanouté, A., Diouf, M., Lô, M.C.M., et al. (2022) Relation entre les maladies parodontales et les issues défavorables de la grossesse en Afrique: Scoping review. Journal Africain des Cas Clinique et Revues, 6, 17-25.
Panchal, K., Chauhan, Y., Patel, H., Panchal, A., Motwani, D. and Katta, S.C. (2023) A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Attitude about the Association between Maternal Periodontitis and Its Adverse Obstetric Outcomes in Mothers. International Journal of Medical and Oral Research, 8, 41-44. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmo.ijmo_7_23
Boutigny, H., De Moegen, M.-L., Egea, L., et al. (2016) Oral Infections and Pregnancy: Knowledge of Gynecologists/Obstetric Healthcare Personnel, Mid-Wives and Dentists. Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry, 14, 41-47.
Turabi, R., Agrali, ö.B. and Doğan, B. (2022) Awareness, Knowledge and Attitude toward the Relationship between Periodontal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes among Obstetrician-Gynecologist Healthcare Profession-als in Türkiye: Results of 11th Turkish-German Gynecological Association Congress Based Survey. Journal of the Turk-ish-German Gynecological Association, 23, 275-286. https://doi.org/10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2022.2021-9-13
Goka, R.Y., Nyako, E.A., Sackeyfio, J., Hewlett, S., Ndanu, T.A., Konadu, A.B., et al. (2022) Periodontal Health Status of Pregnant Women Attending Three Ante-Natal Clinics in Accra, Ghana. Postgraduate Medical Journal of Ghana, 11, 63-68. https://doi.org/10.60014/pmjg.v11i1.280
Kanmodi, K.K., Amoo, B.A., Nwafor, J.N., Nnyanzi, L.A., Ogbeide, M.E., Hundeji, A.A., et al. (2023) Knowledge and Practices Regarding Oral Hygiene, Cariogenic Diet Intake, and Dental Check-Ups among Registered Nurses in Nigeria: A Pilot Study. Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU, 13, 543-550. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1760439
Ayamolowo, L.B., Ibitoye, O.S., Esan, A.O., Akinsolu, F.T., Eleje, G.U., Sala-ko, A.O., et al. (2025) Healthcare Workers’ Perspectives on Integrated Oral and Antenatal Health Care at Public Health Fa-cilities in Southwestern Nigeria: A Qualitative Study. BMC Health Services Research, 25, Article No. 1091. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13308-1
