Gingival Health Status among Pregnant Women in Urban and Rural Areas in Al-Karkh-Baghdad
Author(s): Maimonah Tariq Abed* and Nada Jafer MH Radhi
Abstract
Background: Pregnancy is a stressful disorder that causes significant changes in metabolic and physiological functions extent. Pregnancy may aggravate inflammatory response of the gingiva to plaque. The impact of systemic circumstances on the host's cellular and immunologic activities appear to be the cause of this altered response, while microbial plaque remains the key causative component. Even in the presence of minimal quantities of plaque, the incidence and severity of gingival inflammation can increase during pregnancy, which is an example of an altered host response due to systematic influences. Increased estrogen and progesterone levels in pregnant women during the third trimester have been linked to increased gingivitis severity by replacing nutritional demands for particular oral bacteria and promoting their proliferation.
Materials and methods: comparative cross sectional study, all women participating in this study were attending the primary health care centers in Baghdad city in AL-Karkh sector, they were with the age ranged from (15-44) years old. The first group consists of all pregnant women attendance seeking dental treatment in urban areas, the second group consists of all pregnant women attendance seeking dental treatment in rural areas. Oral examination and the oral assessment were done according to the World Health Organization WHO (2013). Gingival condition conducted according to Loe and Silness (1963).
Results: The mean value of the gingival index was found to be statistically non-significant differences between pregnant women in urban and rural areas.
Conclusion: The gingivitis was slightly higher in urban than rural pregnant women, but the mild score was reported to be the most common.