PERIODONTAL CONDITIONS,  PRETERM AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT  OUTCOMES IN UGANDA

Methods:  This was a cross sectional study using medical records, clinical examination and oral interviews of mothers at the two  health facilities. Mothers with singleton babies from Mulago (n=300) and Mbarara Hospital (n=100) were selected. The women were clinically examined for periodontal conditions by 2 trained and calibrated dentists. Data on previous use of antibiotics, preterm birth and low birth weight were retrieved from medical records. The data were analyzed to determine the relationship between the three categories of periodontal conditions (bleeding gum, periodontal pockets and calculus deposits) and preterm births and birth weight. Frequency distribution was used to describe the material. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to study the association between the periodontal conditions and pregnancy outcomes.

Results:  About 26.2 % and 29.5% of the mothers examined had bleeding gums and periodontal pockets of 4 or more mm deep in Mulago and Mbarara Hospital, respectively. Gum bleeding and periodontal pockets were significantly more prevalent in mothers from Mulago than Mbarara Hospital (p<0.05). Advanced disease i.e. pocket depth ≥ 6 mm expressed as CPI score 4 was recorded in 12 (4%) and 1 (1%) mothers in Mulago and Mbarara Hospital, respectively. Calculus deposits were recorded in 85.7% of the mothers (n=343) with no significant difference between the two hospitals (p>0.05). Gingival recession was more prevalent in Mbarara compared to Mulago Hospital: 32% versus 1.3% (p<0.05).Based on bivariate and multivariate analyses, there was no significant association between the periodontal conditions and pregnancy outcomes recorded (p>0.05)

Conclusion:   Periodontal conditions of these mothers were found to be better than reported in Ugandan. No relationship between these conditions of the mothers and adverse pregnancy outcomes was found.