Predictors and prevalence of periodontitis among pregnant women of slum areas of Patna, India: An opportunity for oral health promotion

BACKGROUND: There is abundant documentation in literature that presence of maternal periodontal infections has been attributed to serious health problem to the mother and the child. Regular evaluation of any illness burden is required for planning preventive and treatment strategies and fills the existing health gap. There is a lack of literature about the predictors and prevalence of periodontal diseases in expectant women in the slum areas of Patna. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study conducted on pregnant women of slum areas of Patna, Bihar, by convenience sampling method. Using a questionnaire, data collection was carried for demographic and oral hygiene habits information. Periodontal examination was done using modified community periodontal index criteria (WHO, 2013) by recording bleeding on probing (BoP), periodontal pockets (PD) and loss of attachment (LoA). The prevalence of potential predictors was estimated and bivariate analysis was performed with BoP, PD, and LoA and then to explore the prevalence of odds ratio (ORs) multivariate logistic regression framework was employed. The level of significance was kept at P < 0.05. RESULTS: A higher level of BoP and PD was observed among women who had the habit of cleaning their teeth once daily a day than those who cleaned their teeth with brush twice a day. Oral cleanliness (hygiene) frequency established the maximum OR of 2.77 (2.07–3.71) for BoP. Gingival bleeding robustly was related with PD. Among all multivariate framework of predictors of LoA, BoP, and PD came as the firmest predictors. CONCLUSION: Teaching correctly how to maintain oral hygiene and periodic periodontal check-up can improvise the general well-being and adverse pregnancy outcomes can be lessened.