title: The different roles of neighbourhood and individual social capital on oral health-related quality of life during pregnancy and postpartum: a multilevel analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social capital incorporates neighbourhood and individual levels of interactions and influences health. The objective of this was to assess the association of neighbourhood and individual social capital with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in pregnant and postpartum women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a follow-up prevalence multilevel study on a representative sample of 1248 women grouped into 55 neighbourhoods. OHRQoL was assessed in the postpartum period using the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14). Exploratory variables were gathered during the first trimester of pregnancy and included neighbourhood social capital (neighbourhood-level measure), individual social capital (social support and social networks), demographic and socio-economic variables, oral health measures, and health-related behaviours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The multilevel ordered multinomial logistic regression showed that neighbourhood social capital did not significantly affect women's OHRQoL during pregnancy and postpartum period. Individual social capital measures were independently associated with high OHRQoL. Lack of family social network increased the odds for high OHRQoL (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.08-1.92). Individuals with high levels of positive social interaction were less likely to report high scores of OHRQoL (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individual social capital was of greater relevance to women's OHRQoL in and after pregnancy than neighbourhood social capital. These findings suggest that quality of personal and social resources of pregnant women are more important for OHRQoL than the neighbourhoods where the women live.
authors.affiliation: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gabriela A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lamarca
authors.forename: Maria do C
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Anna T T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Leao
authors.forename: Aubrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheiham
authors.forename: Mario V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Vettore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dental public health; multilevel analysis; oral health; social capital; social network; social support; women's health