AN INTEGRATED EMPOWERMENT MODEL OF SPIRITUAL PRAYER FOR ORAL HEALTH OF PREGNANT WOMEN

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to construct and test an integrative model that provides human-oriented social work services to improve the oral health of pregnant women by verifying the combined effects of multidimensional empowerment educational, social, spiritual, and structural on the oral health outcomes of pregnant women and the moderating effect of HST. Recognizing the limitations of traditional biomedical approaches, this study attempts to adopt a holistic framework that considers both individual agents and structural contexts. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on pregnant women in developing countries using structured questionnaires to assess constructs in empowerment, trust, and oral health outcomes. Results showed a significant positive predictive effect of all four dimensions of empowerment on improved oral health in pregnant women. Notably, trust in the health system significantly moderated the relationship between each type of empowerment and oral health outcomes. The novelty of this study lies in the importance of integrating theoretical references that include spiritual empowerment alongside traditional dimensions, while explicitly testing the catalytic effect of institutional trust. Effective public health responses must be holistic, not fragmented. Programs must work on multiple levels to achieve sustainable outcomes, especially in religious and developing country contexts. This means empowering individuals while also building trust in the healthcare system. This will help maximize the benefits of health interventions for pregnant women in terms of safety and health.