Maternal periodontitis: A risk factor for preterm labour and low birth weight

Abstract

Purpose: Preterm delivery and low birth weight is becoming the foremost crunch in India and is the most prevailing public health issue in developed and developing countries. To prove the confederacy between preterm labour (PTL) or low birth weight (LBW) and maternal periodontitis, a case control study was conducted among 30 puerpera women in rural population. Methods: The study sample was grouped into cases and controls based on the pregnancy outcomes, cases include 15 mothers with preterm birth and low birth weight babies and controls includes 15 mothers with normal term (greater than or equal to 37 weeks) gestation and normal birth weight babies (more than or equal to 2500 grams), in accordance with postnatal records regarding the gestation weeks and baby weight. Within 48 hours of parturition, periodontal status of the puerperal was examined by Community Periodontal Index. Statistical analysis used: Epi Info 7 Software. Results: Pregnant women with periodontal disease are 56 times risk of preterm labour and low birth weight babies and Chi-square value = 16.425 (p =0.000). Conclusions: This study shows that there is a strong statistical association between the preterm labour and birth type of babies with maternal periodontitis. Maternal periodontitis are 56 times risk of preterm labour and low birth weight. Hence, pregnant mothers should be educated about the risk of periodontal disease and motivated to maintain the oral hygiene by proper oral hygiene instruction measures with periodic dental visits.