The Association between Grand Multiparity and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study from Ha'il, Saudi Arabia

Inconsistent evidence exists regarding the association of grand multiparity with adverse neonatal outcomes. This study aims to compare specific adverse outcomes in grand multiparas (those with five or more births at twenty or more weeks of gestation, regardless of fetal outcome) compared to those with lower parity (those with less than five births at twenty or more weeks of gestation, regardless of fetal outcome). A retrospective cohort study was undertaken at the Maternity and Children Hospital in Ha'il region, Saudi Arabia. After calculating the required sample size, data were collected from consenting participants with a viable singleton delivery. Socio-demographic variables, select maternal characteristics, and adverse neonatal outcomes (admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, low birth weight, prematurity, and APGAR score less than 7 in the first 5 min) were compared between grand multiparas and women with lower parity. Two hundred ninety-four participants were recruited (ninety-eight grand multiparas and one hundred ninety-six of lower parity). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in relation to age, level of education, body mass index, and the occurrence of gestational diabetes. Out of the studied adverse neonatal outcomes after the adjustment for maternal age between the two groups, no statistically significant difference in the adverse neonatal outcomes was found between the two groups. Grand multiparity does not incur an additional risk of adverse neonatal outcomes compared to women of lower parity. Furthermore, increasing maternal age and comorbid conditions might have a more detrimental effect on neonatal outcomes than grand multiparity per se.

Prevalence and severity of dental caries among public school students aged 16-l8 in Hai'l, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and severity of dental caries among school students aged 16-18 in Ha'il urban city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study randomly selected 480 students from eight secondary schools in Ha'il urban city from September to October 2015. Three calibrated examiners used the decayed, missing and filled teeth index (DMFT), based on the World Health Organization criteria, to examine the students. Data analyses were subsequently performed.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of dental caries in secondary school students in Ha'il city was 78.9% (n = 379). The mean DMFT value was 3.49 ± 2.78, the decayed component was 2.68 ± 2.21, the missing component was 0.10 ± 0.34, and the filled component was 0.71 ± 1.09.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide evidence of a high prevalence of caries in students aged 16-18 years in Ha'il city, KSA. Thus, the oral health of adolescents should receive more consideration in Saudi Arabia.