title: Dental neglect and adverse birth outcomes: a validation and observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to validate the Indian translation of the Dental Neglect Scale (DNS) among a sample of parturient Indian women and to investigate dental neglect as a possible risk indicator in adverse birth outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and sixteen parturient women were administered the DNS and the Modified Dental Beliefs Scale (MDBS) and were also clinically examined for oral health status. Information regarding socio-economic status, weeks of gestation and birth weight was also collected. A gestation period of less than 37 weeks was considered as preterm and a birth weight of less than 2500 gm as 'low birth weight'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Indian version of the DNS was found to be reliable (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.72) and valid for assessing dental neglect among the women. Factor analysis of the DNS revealed a two-factor structure accounting for 56% variance. Dental neglect was higher among those with poorer oral health status, lower socio-economic and educational status. Multinomial logistic regression showed high dental neglect and negative dental beliefs and not poor oral health, as significant risk indicators for occurrence of adverse birth outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of an association of adverse birth outcomes with dental neglect and beliefs, but not with poor oral health could be due to the influence of other more important general factors which had a direct bearing on birth outcomes. There is a need for further research to assess the role of behavioural factors like dental neglect as risk indicators for adverse birth outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India. shashidhar_acharya@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pentapati
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Bhat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007194:India; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification; D009909:Oral Health; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult