International Journal of Infertility & Fetal Medicine

Register      Login

VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3 ( September-December, 2024 ) > List of Articles

SURVEY

Knowledge and Awareness about Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Periodontitis among Pregnant Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Lakshmi Priya Muniyandi, Smriti Dharuman, Ranjana Devi Mahavishnu, Sugirtha Chellapandi

Keywords : Adverse pregnancy outcome, Periodontium, Pregnancy, Questionnaire study

Citation Information : Muniyandi LP, Dharuman S, Mahavishnu RD, Chellapandi S. Knowledge and Awareness about Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Periodontitis among Pregnant Women: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2024; 15 (3):168-170.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10016-1362

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 30-03-2025

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim and background: During various stages of a woman's life, an impact on oral health can be observed due to the hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). When periodontal disease is present, it initiates a local and systemic immune process by entering the bloodstream thereby triggering a response in the placental tissues. This in turn can lead to complications in pregnancy as there is an increased risk of danger to both the mother and the fetus. It is thus important for pregnant women to be aware of this connection in order to take appropriate measures for their oral health during pregnancy. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness about adverse pregnancy outcomes and periodontitis among pregnant women. Materials and methods: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study using a self-validated questionnaire which was sent as an online form. The data was tabulated and analyzed using the SPSS version 23.0 software. The Chi-squared test and Fisher's Exact test were used. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 161 pregnant women participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 27.0 ± 2.7. Acid reflux/morning sickness was commonly seen in 87.6% of the participants. Seventy respondents responded that swollen gums were commonly noticed followed by bleeding gums in 51 participants. 42.9% of respondents had visited the dentist in the past 12 months and 14.3% of the participants had never visited a dentist. Conclusion: Despite pregnant women having oral changes during pregnancy, dental intervention is not commonly sought. Increasing knowledge among pregnant women about the relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes is essential for promoting better maternal and fetal health. Clinical significance: Educating and raising awareness about the link between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes among healthcare professionals plays a vital role as they can help pregnant women to also prioritize their oral health.


PDF Share
  1. Aleksic MD, Lukic AM. Efficacy of gallium in tooth loss prevention. Acta Stomatol Naissi 2016;32(74):1668–1675. DOI: 10.5937/asn1674668A
  2. Beck JD, Papapanou PN, Philips KH, et al. Periodontal medicine: 100 years of progress. J Dent Res 2019;98(10):1053–1062. DOI: 10.1177/0022034519846113
  3. Guan ZW, Xu TQ, Shen S, et al. Pathways and mechanisms of periodontitis contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2023;54(1):39–48. DOI: 10.12182/20230160501
  4. Amarasekara R, Jayasekara RW, Senanayake H, et al. Microbiome of the placenta in pre-eclampsia supports the role of bacteria in the multifactorial cause of pre-eclampsia. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2015;41(5):662–669. DOI: 10.1111/jog.12619
  5. Bawankar PV, Kolte AP, Kolte RA. Assessment of knowledge, awareness, and attitude among patients with cardiovascular disease about its association with chronic periodontitis. J Indian Soc Periodontol 2021;25(2):156–161. DOI: 10.4103/jisp.jisp_101_20
  6. Shenoy R, Chacko V. Utilization of dental services due to dental pain by pregnant women in India: a qualitative analysis. J Interdiscip Dent 2013;3(1):18–20. DOI: 10.4103/2229-5194.120519
  7. Christensen LB, Jeppe-Jensen D, Petersen PE. Self-reported gingival conditions and self-care in the oral health of Danish women during pregnancy. J Clin Periodontol 2003;30(11):949–953. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-051x.2003.00404.x
  8. Boyapati R, Cherukuri SA, Bodduru R, et al. Influence of female sex hormones in different stages of women on periodontium. J Midlife Health 2021;12(4):263–266. DOI: 10.4103/jmh.jmh_142_21
  9. Gupta R, Acharya AK. Oral health status and treatment needs among pregnant women of Raichur district, India: a population based cross-sectional study. Scientifica 2016;2016:9860387. DOI: 10.1155/2016/9860387
  10. Dinas K, Achyropoulos V, Hatzipantelis E, et al. Pregnancy and oral health: utilisation of dental services during pregnancy in northern Greece. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2007;86(8):938–944. DOI: 10.1080/00016340701371413
  11. Aagaard K, Ma J, Antony KM, et al. The placenta harbors a unique microbiome. Sci Transl Med 2014;6(237):237ra65. DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3008599
  12. Olaniyi KS, Moodley J, Mahabeer Y, et al. Placental microbial colonization and its association with pre-eclampsia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020;10:413. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00413
  13. Corbella S, Taschieri S, Del Fabbro M, et al. Adverse pregnancy outcomes and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring potential association. Quintessence Int 2016;47(3):193–204. DOI: 10.3290/j.qi.a34980
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.