Resumo

OLIVEIRA, Dhelfeson Willya Douglas de et al. Maternal oral health associated with preterm birth and a low birth weight among newborns: a transversal study. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2014, vol.50, n.2, pp. 78-85. ISSN 1516-0939.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association among maternal oral health conditions, preterm births and/or low birth weight among newborns, as well as to evaluate the socioeconomic conditions of the mothers. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted in Diamantina, Brazil. The sample consisted of 200 pregnant women who were interviewed and examined at post-partum. The following variables were investigated: low birth weight, preterm birth, periodontal screening and recording (PSR) index, DMFT, and plaque index of the mothers. Socioeconomic data for the mothers were collected through a questionnaire and hospital records. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t and Mann-Whitney tests, as well as multiple logistic regression, adjusted for the variables of age, income, and education level. Results: Two hundred women were interviewed, of which twelve had preterm births and 19 gave birth to newborns with low birth weight. Of the total of women, 12 were smokers and 24 were alcoholics. The average DMFT index was 11.94 (± 6.56). An association could be observed between low birth weight and smoking (p = 0.03), alcohol (p <0.01), periodontal condition (p = 0.01), and DMFT (p = 0.03). A mother with a PSR of greater than 2 had a 3.29-fold higher chance of giving birth to a child with a low birth weight. No association could be drawn between preterm birth and any of the investigated variables. Conclusion: It could therefore be concluded that both the PSR and DMFT indexes were associated with low birth weight, but not with preterm birth.

Palavras-chave : Periodontal disease.; Obstetric labor; premature.; Infant; low birth weight.; Pregnancy..