Exploring the Potential for Collaboration between Midwifery and Oral Health Departments at a Tertiary Education Institution to Support Pregnancy-Related Oral Health: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Oral health is essential to overall well-being, and its importance is heightened during pregnancy, when hormonal and physiological variations affect the oral environment and create a valuable opportunity for health promotion. Yet many pregnant women and people in Aotearoa New Zealand, do not receive adequate oral health care, making perinatal oral health a public health and equity concern. Midwives and Oral Health Therapists (OHTs) bring complementary strengths to this area, and interprofessional education of future practitioners in these professions offer a way to prepare them to work together when they enter the workforce. This study explored the potential for collaboration between undergraduate midwifery and oral health therapy programmes at a Tertiary Education Institution in Aotearoa New Zealand regarding teaching and learning about oral health in pregnancy.

A research qualitative design was used, guided by Appreciative Inquiry and its 5D framework (Define, Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny/Deliver). Two focus groups were conducted with 11 educators, four from the Oral Health Department and seven from the Midwifery Department.

Participants articulated a shared sense of purpose and recognised the value of integrated curricula. They identified existing strengths within both programmes, including relevant content, pre-existing collaborative initiatives, and community-based learning. Looking forward, they envisioned building on scaffolded curricula that introduce perinatal oral health early and move toward greater complexity, supported by reciprocal teaching, shared student learning, and strong interdepartmental relationships. Interprofessional collaboration was understood as a relational practice, and participants emphasised Cultural Safety grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, alongside accessibility and equity. The Design phase generated practical strategies, such as joint teaching and resource development, while the Destiny/Deliver phase identified working groups, dedicated time, and sustained commitment as the key conditions required to enable enduring change.

The findings indicate that closer collaboration between midwifery and oral health education is both feasible and valued, building on existing foundations rather than starting anew. Appreciative Inquiry proved a productive approach for interprofessional education research. This study offers directions for education, practice, and public health policy to strengthen oral health promotion in pregnancy and advance equity for pregnant women and people, and their whānau.