Factors Related to Maternal Oral Health Status: Focus on Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

Oral health management is vital for pregnant women and their fetuses. This study analyzed the factors affecting maternal oral health status. It used secondary data obtained from the 2019 Korean Community Health Survey. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 for complex descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Multiple regression analysis revealed that age (beta = -0.01, p < 0.001), maternal characteristics (beta = -0.10, p < 0.001), education (beta = -0.06, p = 014), subjective health status (beta = 0.27, p < 0.001, sleep duration (beta = 0.07, p = 0.003), breakfast frequency (beta = -0.16, p < 0.001), unmet dental care needs (beta = 0.35, p < 0.001), and depression (beta = -0.02, p < 0.001) are key factors of maternal oral health status. Furthermore, oral health status is associated with mental health factors, such as depression. Therefore, the importance of maternal oral health among pregnant and breastfeeding women must be highlighted to promote the health of mothers and their babies.