02-04

Shari L. Kidwell Garrett, RDH, BS
University of Maryland

Abstract

Pregnancy, Periodontal Infection, and Birth Weight

Purpose: Premature, low birth weight infants are a public health concern of   magnitude. Prematurity is a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the United States. The special needs of low birth weight infants contribute to high medical and nonmedical costs. Recently, a limited number of studies have shown that women who experience periodontal infections while pregnant have a greater chance of delivering a  low weight infant, compared to pregnant women with no periodontal infections. This  theory is of keen interest to the profession of dental hygiene. Dental hygienists promote  oral health as well as overall health, and play an important role in the health care of  pregnant women. If scientific research supports a relationship between periodontal .infections and low birth weight infants, dental hygienists will be more crucial to the  health of pregnant women and their offspring. The purpose of this study is to examine  the relationship between the periodontal status of pregnant women and the subsequent  birth weights of their offspring in order to contribute scientific knowledge to the profession of dental hygiene and other health professions.          

Research design: The research design is descriptive, utilizing a nonexperimental, retrospective approach. Preexisting data from dental records and birth certificates will be used to examine the relationship between maternal periodontal status and subsequent birth weight.

Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics (averages, percentages) will be used to summarize the subjects' age, race, marital status, and reason for dental visit. Inferential statistics (chi-square, Pearson's r) will be used to examine the relationship between maternal periodontal status and subsequent birth weight. To control for the cofounding variables of smoking and African American race, analysis of covariance (ANCOV A) testing will also be done.