A Formative Assessment of Social Determinants of Health Related to Early Childhood Caries in Two American Indian Communities

Kristan Elwell, Carolyn Camplain, Christine Kirby, Katharine Sanderson, Gloria Grover, Gerlinda Morrison, Amy Gelatt and Julie A. Baldwin
Additional contact information
Kristan Elwell: Department of Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Carolyn Camplain: Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Christine Kirby: Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Katharine Sanderson: Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Gloria Grover: Hopi Department of Health and Human Services, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039, USA
Gerlinda Morrison: Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
Amy Gelatt: Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Julie A. Baldwin: Department of Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: In the United States, children from diverse ethnic groups and those with low socioeconomic status are at a significantly increased risk for early childhood caries. Despite the efforts focused on decreasing early childhood caries in American Indian (AI) populations, these children have the highest incidence of dental caries of any ethnic group, with four times the cases of untreated dental caries compared to white children. This qualitative formative assessment was conducted in two AI communities. Semi-structured interviews ( n = 57) were conducted with caregivers and providers to understand the social and community contexts in which oral health behaviors and practices occur from the perspective of the caregivers, oral health care providers, and social service providers in the communities. The analysis was informed by the social determinants of health framework. The key social determinants of pediatric oral health relevant to our study communities included limited access to: oral health promoting nutritious foods, transportation for oral health appointments, and pediatric specialty care. This formative assessment provided locally and contextually relevant information to shape the development of an oral health clinical trial intervention to address early childhood caries in these two communities.

Keywords: early childhood caries (ECC); social determinants of health (SDH); American Indian communities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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