The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59244

Patricia E Evans, MD, MPH¹, Irene V. Hilton, DDS, MPH², and Samantha Stephen, RDH, MS². (1) Maternal and Child Health, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 260, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-575-5672, bvhpf@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) Dental Bureau, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 1525 Silver Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134

Objective: To identify cultural differences among African American, Chinese, Filipino and Hispanic caregivers of children between 1-5 years of age related to preventive oral health care. Methods: 4-6 focus groups of between 8-12 participants, were conducted in the African American (AA), Chinese, Hispanic and Filipino communities. Participants were caregivers of children ages 1-5. The groups were stratified by age and, except in the AA community, by place of birth. Groups were conducted in different languages as needed. Results: Typical barriers to accessing preventive oral health care were identified by all groups, including lack of dental insurance, lack of providers willing to accept public insurance, long appointment wait times, fear and age of the child. However, lack of knowledge about preventive oral health care was particularly striking for the Chinese community compared to the AA and Hispanic communities. In the AA and Hispanic communities, negative caregiver childhood dental experiences were positive influences to obtain early preventive oral care for their children. Conclusions: Cultural differences do exist among various racial/ethnic groups related to preventive oral health care. These differences must be taken into account when designing programs, both from an access perspective and from the prevention perspective. Supported by DHHS/NIH/NIDCR U54-DE14251

Learning Objectives:

• Identify at least one difference between issues identified in the African American, Chinese, Filipino and Hispanic communities related to preventive oral health care.
• Identify at least two areas of similarity between African American, Chinese, Filipino and Hispanic communities related to preventive oral health care.

Keywords: Oral Health, Culture

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.