196 - Maternal Mental Health and Cariogenic Organisms in Hurricane-Exposed Mother–Child Dyads

Abstract:

Purpose: To evaluate the association between maternal mental health and salivary Mutans Streptococci (MS) and yeast levels in mother–child dyads exposed to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico during pregnancy.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the HELiOS (Hurricane Exposures and Long-term Infant Outcomes Study in Puerto Rican Mothers and Children) cohort which includes 187 mother–child dyads prenatally exposed to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Maternal mental health symptoms were evaluated using validated instruments for depression (PHQ-9), perceived stress (PSS-10), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5). Saliva samples were cultured on mitis salivarius agar with bacitracin (MSB) and Sabouraud agar for enumeration of MS and yeasts, respectively. Associations between maternal mental health variables and microbial outcomes were evaluated using logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: Mothers’ age ranged from 21 to 47 years (mean=31.67±5.04), and children’s age ranged from 12 to 55 months (mean=26.58±12.08). MS were present in 64% of children and 88% of mothers. Yeast prevalence was 22% in children and 32% in mothers. High/moderate maternal stress was associated with child yeast presence in bivariate analyses but not in adjusted models. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with maternal MS in age-adjusted models (OR=1.105; 95% CI: 1.009–1.210), but not in fully adjusted models.

Conclusions: Maternal stress was associated with increased likelihood of yeast presence in children. PTSD may also be associated with maternal MS.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health grants R21MD013652 and U54GM133807. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.