Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The study examined the relationship between oral health status
(periodontal disease and carious pulpal exposure (CPE)) and preterm
low-birth-weight (PTLBW) infant deliveries among Tanzanian-African mothers at
Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Tanzania.
METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted, involving 373
postpartum mothers aged 14-44 years (PTLBW--150 cases) and at term
normal-birth-weight (TNBW)--223 controls), using structured questionnaire and
full-mouth examination for periodontal and dentition status.
RESULTS: The mean number of sites with gingival bleeding was higher in PTLBW than
in TNBW (P = 0.026). No significant differences were observed for sites with
plaque, calculus, teeth with decay, missing, filling (DMFT) between PTLBW and
TNBW. Controlling for known risk factors in all post-partum (n = 373), and
primiparaous (n = 206) mothers, no significant differences were found regarding
periodontal disease diagnosis threshold (PDT) (four sites or more that had
probing periodontal pocket depth 4+mm and gingival bleeding > or = 30% sites),
and CPE between cases and controls. Significant risk factors for PTLBW among
primi- and multiparous mothers together were age < or = 19 years (adjusted Odds
Ratio (aOR) = 2.09, 95% Confidence interval (95% CI): 1.18-3.67, P = 0.011),
hypertension (aOR = 2.44, (95% CI): 1.20-4.93, P = 0.013) and being un-married
(aOR = 1.59, (95% CI): 1.00-2.53, P = 0.049). For primiparous mothers significant
risk factors for PTLBW were age < or = 19 years (aOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.13 - 3.81,
P = 0.019), and being un-married (aOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.42-4.67, P = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS: These clinical findings show no evidence for periodontal disease or
carious pulpal exposure being significant risk factors in PTLBW infant delivery
among Tanzanian-Africans mothers at MNH, except for young age, hypertension, and
being unmarried. Further research incorporating periodontal pathogens is
recommended.
