The Effects of Obesity and Mothers’ Education Levels on the Periodontal Health Status of Iraqi School-Aged Children Kadhim Maitha Sameer1, Alanbari Basma Fathi2,*, Al-Aaloosi Sanaa Rasheed Abd2, Juboori Mohammed Jasim AL2 1Assistant Lecturer, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Al-Rafidain University College, Baghdad, Iraq 2Assistant Lecturer, Department of Periodontology, Al-Rafidain University College, Baghdad, Iraq *Corresponding Author: Basma Fathi Alanbari, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Periodontology, Al-Rafidain University College, Baghdad, Iraq, Email: basma.alanbari@gmail.com
Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract Background It is evident from the literature that an increased body mass index (BMI) and low socioeconomic status are potential risk factors for periodontal diseases. Most related studies are international and have investigated such associations in adults, and there have been few Iraqi studies targeting school-aged children. Objective To investigate the impact of paediatric obesity and mothers’ educational levels on the periodontal health status of children. Method The study sample was composed of 300 children (152 males, 148 females) aged 6–12 years. The subjects’ weight and height were measured, and the body mass index was calculated for each child to obtain a percentile ranking; the percentiles were used to allocate the total sample population into four subgroups (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese). The children's periodontal health was assessed using the Plaque Index (PLI) and Gingival Index (GI), and the mothers’ educational level was assessed by direct parental interview. Results Compared with the other categories of children, obese male (84.35) and overweight female (82.92) children had greater values for the PLI, while overweight children of both sexes (89.47 male, 92.11 female) had greater values of the GI. Male and female children with mothers who had the lowest level of education were found to have the highest values of PLI & GI. Non-significant differences were recorded between the male-female matched study groups with regard to the body mass index and mothers’ educational levels. Conclusions Childhood obesity and socioeconomic disadvantages have negative impacts on children's gingival health in this representative sample. Top Keywords Obesity, Mothers’ Education, Plaque Index, Gingival Index, Body Mass Index, Iraq. Top |