Satisfaction of mothers regarding human milk donation.

In France, human milk banks are in charge of the collection, analysis, processing, and distribution of human milk to neonatology centers for preterm infants. Knowledge of what motivates mothers to donate their milk could lead to better communication regarding human milk donation. A satisfaction survey was conducted among mothers who were donating their milk to a human milk bank. In total, 214 mothers answered a questionnaire in the presence of the collector during a home visit. The median age of the mothers was 31 years (18-46), mainly high school (19%) or university (65%) graduates, and the median duration of donation was 3 months (0.5-22). At the time of the study, the median age of infants was 3 months (0.5-25), and 88% of infants were exclusively breastfed. About three quarters of mothers were motivated by willingness to help others, a quarter of them being especially sensitive to premature neonatal care; 30% of mothers were motivated by having a high supply of milk. Around 25% of mothers were given information on human milk donation during pregnancy, and two thirds after delivery, mainly by the maternity ward midwives (53.4%) or by collectors during their visit (14.1%). Most mothers (72%) found the human milk donation process easy and most of them (92.5%) were willing to donate their milk again after their next pregnancy. This survey shows that more than 90% of mothers are satisfied with donation to human milk banks. However, efforts should be made to provide information on breastfeeding and human milk donation to the general population and health professionals.

IL6 -174 genotype associated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in Indians.

AIM: Genetic factors have recently been associated with presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans subgingivally in populations living in industrialized countries. The aim of this study was to analyse associations between Interleukin-6 (IL6) single nucleotide polymorphisms and presence and levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans and other subgingival microbes in a rural Indian population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 251 individuals from a rural village in India with a periodontal phenotype ranging from healthy to severe periodontitis were included. Checkerboard DNA-DNA analysis was performed to detect 40 periodontal taxa in subgingival plaque samples. Genomic DNA was extracted to genotype five polymorphisms in the IL6 promoter region. RESULTS: The IL6-74 GG genotype was associated with high (above median) counts of A. actinomycetemcomitans (both in all subjects and in periodontally healthy only) and with presence and counts of Capnocytophaga sputigena. Differences in detection of several other bacteria were noted between periodontitis and healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the influence of genetic factors on the subgingival microbiota.

Sustained oral health improvement and use of toothbrushes and dentifrice by previous users of traditional materials in a rural population in Andhra Pradesh, India.

AIM: To follow-up, one year later, a double-blind, randomised study, which investigated the effect of regular brushing with dentifrices on the oral health of an economically disadvantaged rural population in Andhra Pradesh, India who were primarily users of traditional materials. SUBJECTS: 150 of the original study population. METHOD: Examination to determine whether the improvements in oral health status and oral health behaviour (use of toothbrush and dentifrice), being unsupported, had been sustained since completion of the original study. RESULTS: Data analysis showed sustained, statistically significant improvements in gingival health as measured by gingival bleeding and plaque indices (GBI and PI) comparing users and non-users of toothbrushes and dentifrice in the original study (PI: p = 0.04; GBI: p = 0.03) and sustained use of toothbrushes and dentifrice by 60% of the subjects at follow-up one year later. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a beneficial effect on oral hygiene indices following the introduction of toothbrushes and dentifrices to a community using traditional oral hygiene materials and sustainability of use of these materials with motivation and support. It may therefore be concluded that it is feasible to achieve significant use of conventional toothbrushes and toothpastes, with consequent major and sustained improvements in plaque control and gingival health in a disadvantaged population hitherto often considered as not amenable to conventional oral hygiene for cultural or economic reasons.

Oral health status and access to care in a rural area of India.

A study was carried out in two villages in a rural area of Andhra Pradesh, India, 150 kilometres south of the state capital, Hyderabad. Ninety-eight women and sixty-two men, age range 15-70 years, were interviewed and examined. Information gathered included socio-economic data, distance travelled outside the village and previous access to health care. Data were recorded on periodontal status using CPITN and full periodontal charting. Comparisons were made between male and female subjects for travel outwith the village, attendance at medical and dental health facilities, tooth cleaning methods and materials and prevalence of periodontal disease. There was a high prevalence of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease in this population, and most of this was untreated. In view of the difficulties in access to health care, it would be prudent to offer good preventive oral health care within the rural community.