Structural equation modeling in epidemiology.

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is an important statistical tool for evaluating complex relations in several research areas. In epidemiology, the use and discussion of SEM have been limited thus far. This article presents basic principles and concepts in SEM, including an application using epidemiological data analysis from a study on the determinants of cognitive development in young children, considering constructs related to organization of the child's home environment, parenting style, and the child's health status.

Contribution of periodontal disease in pregnant women as a risk factor for low birth weight.

Unlabelled: Starting in the 1990s, several authors sought to investigate the hypothesis that periodontitis during pregnancy may contribute towards the birth of low-weight children. However, this relationship is still not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this oral infection is associated with this gestational event.

Periodontal therapy for pregnant women and cases of low birthweight: an intervention study.

Background: Over the past decade, strong evidence for an association between maternal periodontitis and low birthweight has started to appear. However, few intervention studies have been proposed for investigating this hypothesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether periodontal therapy among pregnant women would reduce the incidence of low birthweight.

Estimating adjusted prevalence ratio in clustered cross-sectional epidemiological data.

Background: Many epidemiologic studies report the odds ratio as a measure of association for cross-sectional studies with common outcomes. In such cases, the prevalence ratios may not be inferred from the estimated odds ratios. This paper overviews the most commonly used procedures to obtain adjusted prevalence ratios and extends the discussion to the analysis of clustered cross-sectional studies.

[The profile of violence against children and adolescents according to Child Protection Council records: victims, aggressors and patterns of violence].

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of violence against children and adolescents through the records of Child Protection Councils, associating this violence with the age of the victims and their links with the aggressor.

Method: Data were collected from the records and the prevalence rates were calculated through the Prevalence Ratio (PR), together with the associations among variables, with a critical level of 5%.

Results: Out of 1,293 records of violence, 1,011 (78.

Exposure measurement in the association between periodontal disease and prematurity/low birth weight.

Aim: To compare the use of different definitions for exposure measurement in cases of association between periodontal disease (PD) and prematurity and/or low birth weight (PLBW).

Material And Methods: A database from a previous case-control study was used to compare four different definitions for periodontitis: at least one site with probing depth > or =4 mm (1); at least one site with clinical attachment loss (CAL)> or =3 mm (2); at least four teeth with one or more sites presenting probing depth > or =4 mm, with CAL> or =3 mm at the same site (3); and at least four teeth with one or more sites with probing depth > or =4 mm, with CAL> or =3 mm at the same site and presence of bleeding on probing (4). The PD frequency, diagnostic values and adjusted association measurements were calculated.

The association between postmenopausal osteoporosis and periodontal disease.

Background: The clinical importance of systemic bone loss as a contributory factor to alveolar bone loss and the subsequent loss of teeth merits further study, given that osteoporosis and periodontal disease lead to significantly increased morbidity and mortality and higher public expenditure of funds. This case-control study evaluated the association between osteoporosis and periodontal disease.

Methods: The sample consisted of 139 postmenopausal women: 48 in the case group (with periodontal disease) and 91 in the control group (without periodontal disease).