Oral Hygiene and Gingival Health Among Pregnant Women

Sana Javed; Anila Mahmood; Ariba Jalbani; Saima Salman; Mehrunnisa; Madiha Khalid Memon

doi:10.71104/jsogp.v14i2.705

Sana Javed Assistant Professor, oral Biology department LUMHS, Jamshoro
Anila Mahmood Associate Professor Obs & Gynae LUMHS, Jamshoro
Ariba Jalbani Senior Lecturer of Community Dentistry Bhitai Dental & Medical College, Mirpurkhas
Saima Salman Assiatant Professor of Periodontology, Bhitai Dental & Medical College, Mirpurkhas
Mehrunnisa Senior Registrar of Periodontology, Bhitai Dental & Medical College, MirpurKhas
Madiha Khalid Memon Assistant professor of oral biology Muhammad Medical and dental college Mirpurkhas

DOI: https://doi.org/10.71104/jsogp.v14i2.705

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the oral hygiene (Oral Hygiene Index OHI) and the gingival health among women during pregnancy.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted at gynae and obstetrics, outpatient department (OPD) of LUMHS, from November 2023 to January 2024. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinic, aged 18 to 40 years, any trimester of either parity and gravidity were included. The oral hygiene status was assessed using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) comprises two components the Debris Index-Simplified (DI-S) and the Calculus Index-Simplified (CI-S) each scored on six surfaces of the tooth. The gingival health was evaluated assessed using the Gingival Index (GI), where gingivitis was considered with GI score ≥1.0. SPSS version 23 was used for data entry and analysis.

Results: Overall mean age of women 29.58 ± 6.53 years. Majority of the women were in the 3^rd trimester of pregnancy 45.5%, followed by the 2^nd 35.2% and 1st trimester 19.3%. Around, half of the pregnant women had poor oral hygiene, 42% exhibited fair and only 8% showed good oral hygiene, while 56.8% of participants were affected by gingivitis. Furthermore, findings revealed a significant association of gingivitis with anemia (p = 0.036), while there was no significant association found of oral hygiene status and gingivitis with sociodemographic or behavioral factors p->0.05.

Conclusion: A higher proportion of pregnant women observed with unsatisfactory oral hygiene and compromised gingival health, with around half demonstrating poor oral hygiene and more than half affected by gingivitis.