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aiman,4 Balgis Gaffar41College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia Correspondence: Balgis Gaffar, Preventive Dental Sciences, Division of Dental Public Health, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, B.O Box 1982, Dammam Costal Street, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966542269941 ; +966133331439, Email [email protected] Purpose: Pregnant women witness many changes in the body as well as in the oral cavity with many factors influencing these changes. This study evaluated the relationship between oral health status, perceptions, and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A cross sectional study design was implemented to recruit a convenience sample of women attending Obstetrics and gynecology department in public hospitals in East and capital city of Saudi Arabia. To collect data, a validated self-administered questionnaire in English and Arabic was used. The questionnaire covered background information, perceived oral health status, and dental visits. Results: About 64.4% of the 481 women recruited had dental problems, 49.7% reported deterioration in their oral health during pregnancy, and 17.5% reported adverse pregnancy outcomes. Only 40.7% of pregnant women rated their oral health as good, and only 22% visited a dentist during their pregnancy. Dentists were the most common source of oral health information (44.1%), followed by social media (38.9%). Dental problems during pregnancy were significantly associated with adverse outcomes (P=0.007). Oral health perceptions of pregnant women, not visiting the dentist during pregnancy, and gingival problems were also significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (P=0.001). Those with fair to poor oral health were twice as likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcome. Those who intended to visit the dentist during their pregnancy but did not do so, as well as those who did not visit the dentist at all were 12 and 9 times more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes respectively. Conclusion: Dental complaints during pregnancy, oral health perceptions, and a lack of dental visits were all linked to increased likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is a need for interprofessional collaboration to dispel myths and encourage oral health care and regular dental visits during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a significant issue. Nevertheless, the prevalence of IPV and its adverse outcomes in pregnant women in Saudi Arabia are not well documented. This study examines the prevalence of IPV, its relationship with women's background characteristics, and its effect on adverse pregnancy outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 684 women who were either pregnant or in the first six weeks postpartum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. IPV severity was measured using the Composite Abuse Scale. The results showed that 28.9% of the women included in this study experienced IPV. Smoking habit, income, polygamous marriage, presence of chronic diseases and sexual dysfunction, and number of children were significantly associated with IPV severity. In each one-unit increase in total IPV severity, the possibility of the occurrence of preterm labor, vaginal bleeding, dehydration, gestational diabetes, urinary tract infection, spontaneous abortion, and intrauterine growth retardation significantly increases. Furthermore, regarding the types of abuse, we found that for each one-unit increase in verbal abuse, the possibility of the occurrence of preterm labor, dehydration, urinary tract infection, and intrauterine growth retardation significantly increases. Moreover, for each one-unit increase in physical abuse and one-unit increase in controlling behavior, the possibility of the occurrence of intrauterine growth retardation significantly increases. The current results highlight the importance of paying substantial attention to IPV and its types as a health issue that increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women. A clinical assessment during pregnancy is needed to identify and manage cases of IPV survivors and ultimately reduce their risk of IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate gestational weight gain (GWG), and its effects on pregnancy outcomes among Saudi women. Methods: This study involved 769 women registered for antenatal care at primary health care centers. Their body mass index was calculated at the initial visit. Maternal weight was measured at each visit and before delivery, and gestational weight gain was calculated. Obstetric outcomes of mother below and above the Institute of Medicine (IOM) GWG recommendations were compared to the outcomes in mothers with GWG within the IOM recommendations group. Results: GWG was below and above the IOM recommendation in 16.4 and 47.3% of all mothers, respectively. Mothers above IOM recommendations were at increased risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (relative risk (RR) = 4.9); gestational diabetes (RR = 3.8); preeclamptic toxemia (RR = 4.6); and Caesarean section (RR = 2.2). Neonates born to these women had an increased risk for postdate pregnancy, macrosomia, and admission to neonatal care units. Infants born to women with GWG below IOM recommendations were at increased risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, low Apgar score and admission to neonatal care units. Conclusion: Mothers with GWG beyond the normal range recommended by IOM are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes (GDM) are commonly encountered during pregnancy. Both conditions are independently associated with unfavorable pregnancy consequences. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of obesity and GDM on birth weight, macrosomia, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes., Methods: This cohort study involved 531 women with a singleton pregnancy attending the Maternity and Children's Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia, between June 2014 and June 2015. Participants underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks. The International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria were used for GDM diagnosis. BMI was assessed at the first antenatal visit, and obesity was defined as a BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2. All women were followed up until delivery. Women were divided into 4 groups: non-GDM nonobese (reference group), GDM nonobese, obese non-GDM, and obese GDM. Clinical characteristics and adverse pregnancy outcomes were compared., Results: The mean age and BMI of the participants were 30.5 years and 29.3 kg/m2, respectively. GDM was diagnosed in 50.2% of the participants, and obesity was diagnosed in 47.8% of the participants. Obese women with GDM were the oldest and heaviest among all women. The mean birth weight increased in order among the four groups; it was highest in the infants in the obese GDM group, followed by those in the obese non-GDM, GDM nonobese and reference groups. Obesity and GDM alone or in combination were associated with higher rates of macrosomia and cesarean deliveries than the reference group. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission was higher in infants in the GDM nonobese and obese GDM groups. The frequency of low Apgar score was significantly higher in infants in the obese GDM group than in infants in the reference group., Conclusions: Maternal obesity seems to influence birth weight more than GDM, while GDM is associated with a greater risk of admission to the NICU. The combination of both conditions is associated with the greatest risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.