scholarly journals Flying blind: trying to find solutions to Indigenous oral health

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. de Silva ◽  
Jacqueline Martin-Kerry ◽  
Alexandra Geale ◽  
Deborah Cole
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
Health Differences ◽  
Indigenous Children

Objective The aim of the present study was to identify all published evidence about oral health in Indigenous children in Australia and to determine trends in Indigenous oral health over time. Methods PubMed was used to search for published peer-reviewed articles that reported caries (decay) prevalence rates and/or caries experience (based on caries indices) in Indigenous children. Studies included in the analysis needed to report clinical oral health data (not self-reported dental experiences), and articles were excluded if they reported caries in only a select, specific or targeted sample (e.g. only children undergoing hospital admissions for dental conditions). Results The review identified 32 studies that met the inclusion criteria. These studies reported data from the Northern Territory (n = 14), Western Australia (n = 7), South Australia (n = 7), Queensland (n = 7), New South Wales (n = 1), Australian Capital Territory (n = 1) and Tasmania (n = 1). Of the studies, 47% were in rural locations, 9% were in urban locations and 44% were in both rural and urban locations. Data are limited and predominantly for Indigenous children living in rural locations, and there are no published studies on caries in Indigenous children living in Victoria. Conclusions The present study documents the published prevalence and severity of caries in Indigenous children living in Australia and highlights that limited oral health data are available for this priority population. Although risk factors for oral disease are well known, most of the studies did not analyse the link between these factors and oral disease present. There is also inconsistency in how caries is reported in terms of age and caries criteria used. We cannot rely on the available data to inform the development of policies and programs to address the oral health differences in Indigenous populations living contemporary lives in metropolitan areas. What is known about the topic? Many studies report that Indigenous people have poorer general health in Australia compared with non-Indigenous people. What does this paper add? This paper documents the available published prevalence and experience of caries for Indigenous children in Australia. It demonstrates significant limitations in the data, including no Victorian data, inconsistency with reporting methods and most data being for Indigenous children who are living in rural locations. What are the implications for practitioners? It is important for practitioners to have access to oral health data for Indigenous children in Australia. However, the present study highlights significant knowledge gaps for this population group and identifies ways to collect data in future studies to enable more meaningful comparisons and policy development.

scholarly journals Caries and periodontal disease in Indigenous adults in Australia: a case of limited and non-contemporary data

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. de Silva ◽  
Jacqueline M. Martin-Kerry ◽  
Katherine McKee ◽  
Deborah Cole
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Periodontal Disease ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Indigenous Australians

Objective The aim of the present study was to identify all evidence about the prevalence and severity of clinically measured caries and periodontal disease in Indigenous adults in Australia published in peer-reviewed journals and to summarise trends over time. In addition, we examined whether the studies investigated associations between putative risk factors and levels of caries and periodontal disease. Methods PubMed was searched in September 2014, with no date limitations, for published peer-reviewed articles reporting the prevalence rates and/or severity of caries and periodontal disease in Indigenous adults living in Australia. Articles were excluded if measurement was not based on clinical assessment and if oral disease was reported only in a specific or targeted sample, and not the general population. Results The search identified 18 papers (reporting on 10 primary studies) that met the inclusion criteria. The studies published clinical data about dental caries and/or periodontal disease in Australian Indigenous adults. The studies reported on oral health for Indigenous adults living in rural (40%), urban (10%) and both urban and rural (50%) locations. Included studies showed that virtually all Indigenous adults living in rural locations had periodontal disease. The data also showed caries prevalence ranged from 46% to 93%. Although 10 studies were identified, the peer-reviewed literature was extremely limited and no published studies were identified that provided statistics for a significant proportion of Australia (Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland or the Australian Capital Territory). There were also inconsistencies in how the data were reported between studies, making comparisons difficult. Conclusions This review highlights a lack of robust and contemporary data to inform the development of policies and programs to address the disparities in oral health in Indigenous populations living in many parts of Australia. What is known about the topic? Many studies report that Indigenous people in Australia have poorer general health compared with non-Indigenous people. What does this paper add? This paper documents the available caries and periodontal disease prevalence and experience for Indigenous adults in Australia published in peer-reviewed journals. It demonstrates significant limitations in the data, including no data in several large Australian jurisdictions, inconsistency with reporting methods and most data available being for Indigenous adults living in rural locations. Therefore, the oral health data available in the peer-reviewed literature do not reflect the situation of all Indigenous people living in Australia. What are the implications for practitioners? It is important for oral health practitioners to have access to current and relevant statistics on the oral health of Indigenous Australians. However, we have highlighted significant evidence gaps for this population group within the peer-reviewed literature and identified the limitations of the available data upon which decisions are currently being made. This paper also identifies ways to capture and report oral health data in the future to enable more meaningful comparisons and relevance for use in policy development.

scholarly journals Aspirations and Worries: The Role of Parental Intrinsic Motivation in Establishing Oral Health Practices for Indigenous Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11695
Author(s):  
Brianna F. Poirier ◽  
Joanne Hedges ◽  
Lisa G. Smithers ◽  
Megan Moskos ◽  
Lisa M. Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Nutrition Practices ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
History Of ◽  
Health Programming

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (respectfully, subsequently referred to as Indigenous) children in Australia experience oral disease at a higher rate than non-Indigenous children. A history of colonisation, government-enforced assimilation, racism, and cultural annihilation has had profound impacts on Indigenous health, reflected in oral health inequities sustained by Indigenous communities. Motivational interviewing was one of four components utilised in this project, which aimed to identify factors related to the increased occurrence of early childhood caries in Indigenous children. This qualitative analysis represents motivational interviews with 226 participants and explores parents’ motivations for establishing oral health and nutrition practices for their children. Findings suggest that parental aspirations and worries underscored motivations to establish oral health and nutrition behaviours for children in this project. Within aspirations, parents desired for children to ‘keep their teeth’ and avoid false teeth, have a positive appearance, and preserve self-esteem. Parental worries related to child pain, negative appearance, sugar consumption, poor community oral health and rotten teeth. A discussion of findings results in the following recommendations: (1) consideration of the whole self, including mental health, in future oral health programming and research; (2) implementation of community-wide oral health programming, beyond parent-child dyads; and (3) prioritisation of community knowledge and traditions in oral health programming.

scholarly journals Oral health disparities among Brazilian self-identified indigenous individuals

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Araújo Coelho de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Indigenous Population ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Oral Health Disparities ◽  
Health Differences ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
Access To Dental Care ◽  
Health Burdens

This article aimed to use epidemiological constructs to describe and analyze the oral health burdens among self-identified indigenous individuals in Brazil and to compare the findings with the oral health status within the non-indigenous population. The study utilized secondary data from the Oral health Brazil database (SB Brasil 2003) to address the null hypothesis that there were no oral health differences between self-identified indigenous and non-indigenous individuals in Brazil. Indigenous individuals had 3.17 (95% C.I.:2.44--4.13) greater odds of never having visited a dentist’s office than non-indigenous individuals. Indigenous persons had 1.55 (95% C.I.:1.20--2.00) greater odds of having periodontal problems than non-indigenous persons. Indigenous children had 1.71 (95% C.I.:1.37--2.14) higher odds of having a decayed, missing, and filled teeth score different from zero than non-indigenous children. Finally, indigenous persons were found to have 1.24 (95% C.I.:1.07--1.45) greater odds of not being a caries free individual than a non-indigenous person. The results lend credence to the suspicions that in Brazil there are unequal and unfair differences in oral health status and access to dental care between self-identified indigenous individuals and their respective national counterpart.

Oral Health Inequalities among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Children

2020 ◽  
pp. 238008442093904
Author(s):  
D. Haag ◽  
H. Schuch ◽  
D. Ha ◽  
L. Do ◽  
L. Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
The Social ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
Index Of Inequality ◽  
Disease Experience ◽  
Child Oral Health

Introduction: Our ability to address child oral health inequalities would be greatly facilitated by a more nuanced understanding of whether underlying disease experience or treatment opportunities account for a larger share of differences between social groups. This is particularly relevant in the context of population subgroups who are socially marginalized, such as Australia’s Indigenous population. The decayed, missing, and filled (dmf) surfaces index is at once a reflection of dental caries experience (d) and its management (m and f). Objectives: To 1) describe socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries experience and its management among Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and 2) compare these inequalities using absolute and relative measures. Methods: Data were from the Australian National Child Oral Health Study 2012–2014. Absolute and relative income inequalities were assessed for overall dmfs and its individual components (ds, ms, fs) using adjusted means and health disparity indices (Slope Index of Inequality [SII] and Relative Index of Inequality [RII]). Results: Mean dmfs among Indigenous children aged 5 to 10 y was 6.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.4–7.4), ranging from 2.3 in the highest to 9.1 in the lowest income group. Mean dmfs among non-Indigenous children was 2.9 (95% CI, 2.8–3.1), ranging from 1.9 in the highest to 4.2 in the lowest income group. Age- and gender-adjusted social gradients for Indigenous children were evident across all dmfs components but were particularly notable for ds (SII = −4.6, RII = −1.7) and fs (SII = −3.2, RII = −1.5). The social gradients for non-Indigenous children were much lower in magnitude: ds (SII = −1.8, RII = −1.6) and fs (SII = −0.7, RII = −0.5). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that socioeconomic disadvantage may translate into both higher disease experience and increased use of dental services for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups, with the social gradients being much more amplified among Indigenous children. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The findings of this study demonstrate the magnitude of disparities in dental caries among children by population groups in Australia. Our results suggest that the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and poor oral health is more deleterious among Indigenous than non-Indigenous children. Tackling upstream determinants of health might not only affect population patterns of health and disease but also mitigate the overwhelming racial inequalities in oral health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Feeding Indigenous people in Canada

2020 ◽  
pp. 002087282091621
Author(s):  
Tabitha Robin (Martens) ◽  
Mary Kate Dennis ◽  
Michael Anthony Hart
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
Indigenous Cultures ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
History Of

Historically, hunger was used as a tool of coercion and manipulation, and as a weapon to eradicate Indigenous populations. Through policy decisions, the support for and removal of Indigenous children, and other assimilative practices, social work has contributed to the perpetuation of ‘helping practices’ which damaged Indigenous cultures and well-being. Today, experiences of hunger are still tied to colonialism. There is a need to examine the complex history of feeding Indigenous peoples in Canada and to work to reclaim and heal Indigenous food systems. For social work, this requires an emphasis on Indigenous ways of helping led by Indigenous peoples.

scholarly journals Dental caries and oral health behavior assessments among portuguese adolescents.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-308
Author(s):  
Nélio Jorge Veiga ◽  
◽  
Maria Helena Ribeiro De Checchi ◽  
Johnny Martins ◽  
Inara Pereira da Cunha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Dmft Index ◽  
Portuguese Adolescents

Introduction: Adolescents have a high risk of developing caries in Portugal. The present study is designed to assess dental caries experience among the adolescents by the application of DMFT index, characterize the oral health risk factors and to determine the association between caries experience and socio-demographic variables. The characterization of the oral health behaviors of adolescents of the central region of Portugal will help in the development of specific oral health education strategies to improve oral health among the local communities. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenient sample of 694 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years attending public schools in two Portuguese districts using a structured questionnaire designed to investigate oral health and behavior of participants. In addition, a clinical examination was carried out noting the decayed, missing and filled teeth. A descriptive analysis of the variables was performed using the Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p<0.05). A multivariate analysis was applied for analysis of the association between variables. Results: The mean DMFT index score of 2.91±2.9 was obtained. Of the total sample, 73% consumed sugary food daily, 50.1% considered having good oral health and 70.8% did not report pain in the last 12 months. Most adolescents (79.4%) brushed their teeth daily and 60% did not use dental floss. Of the total sample, 96.4% had a dental appointment in the last 12 months, 46.4% of which was for preventive purposes. Applying the Chi-square statistical test, we verified that the adolescents who brush their teeth daily presented a good perception about their oral health (p<0.001), the DMFT index scores were associated with the residence area (p=0.01) and the presence of dental caries was associated with the perception of oral health (p=0.049) and sugary food intake (p=0.029).Conclusion: Portuguese adolescents presented a low DMFT index. The DMFT index was associated with residence area, perception of oral health and sugary food intake. Daily toothbrushing was associated with self-perception of oral health. It is suggested that oral health promotion and prevention programs should aim to reduce the risks of oral disease development.

scholarly journals “What are we doing to our babies’ teeth?” Barriers to establishing oral health practices for Indigenous children in South Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna Poirier ◽  
Joanne Hedges ◽  
Lisa Smithers ◽  
Megan Moskos ◽  
Lisa Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Trial Registry ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
Children In Care

Abstract Background During the 1970s, optimal oral health was experienced more frequently amongst Indigenous children in Australia than their non-Indigenous counterparts. As a result of public health interventions targeting oral disease, oral health has improved for most children; however, Indigenous children today experience oral disease at alarmingly high rates. A history of colonisation, assimilation, racism and cultural annihilation has had profound impacts on oral health for Indigenous peoples; compounded by environmental dispossession and a shift from traditional diets to one of processed and nutrient-poor foods, often high in sugar. Methods This project aimed to identify factors related to the increased occurrence of caries in Indigenous children. Using purposive sampling from the larger project, this paper thematically analyses 327 motivational interviews to explore current barriers impeding parental efforts to establish oral health and nutrition practices for Indigenous children. Representation of socioeconomic positions of families were compared across themes, as based on maternal age, employment, residency and number of children in care. Results Findings resulted in a conceptual model of barriers that exist across knowledge, social, structural and parental factors. Major thematic results include: social consumption of processed foods, busy households, misleading nutrition marketing, sugar cravings and lack of oral health and nutrition knowledge. Conclusion A discussion of the findings results in the following recommendations increased oral health promotion efforts in non-metropolitan areas; utilisation of community experiences in creating strategies that encourage oral health and nutrition knowledge; and the extension of oral health initiatives and future research to include all family members. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12611000111976; registered 01/02/2011.

Primary oral health service provision in Aboriginal Medical Services-based dental clinics in Western Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estie Kruger ◽  
Irosha Perera ◽  
Marc Tennant
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Health Service Provision ◽  
Dental Clinics ◽  
Aboriginal Populations

Australians living in rural and remote areas have poorer access to dental care. This situation is attributed to workforce shortages, limited facilities and large distances to care centres. Against this backdrop, rural and remote Indigenous (Aboriginal) communities in Western Australia seem to be more disadvantaged because evidence suggests they have poorer oral health than non-Indigenous people. Hence, provision of dental care for Aboriginal populations in culturally appropriate settings in rural and remote Western Australia is an important public health issue. The aim of this research was to compare services between the Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS)-based clinics and a typical rural community clinic. A retrospective analysis of patient demographics and clinical treatment data was undertaken among patients who attended the dental clinics over a period of 6 years from 1999 to 2004. The majority of patients who received dental care at AMS dental clinics were Aboriginal (95.3%), compared with 8% at the non-AMS clinic. The rate of emergency at the non-AMS clinic was 33.5%, compared with 79.2% at the AMS clinics. The present study confirmed that more Indigenous patients were treated in AMS dental clinics and the mix of dental care provided was dominated by emergency care and oral surgery. This indicated a higher burden of oral disease and late utilisation of dental care services (more focus on tooth extraction) among rural and remote Indigenous people in Western Australia.

Caries Prevalence in Korean Children and Adolescents from 2000 to 2012

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ah-Hyeon Kim ◽  
Youn-Soo Shim ◽  
Jong-Bin Kim ◽  
So-Youn An
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Caries Prevalence ◽  
Korean Children ◽  
Epidemiological Surveys

Objectives: National oral health data is required to assess a population's oral health needs, monitor oral health, plan effective intervention community programs and health policies, and evaluate progress toward health objectives. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence, severity, and inequality in dental caries distribution among Korean young people. Study Design: Trained, calibrated examiners at the Korea Ministry of Health & Welfare conducted epidemiological surveys in 2000, 2006, and 2012 during which dental caries were assessed according to World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria. Decayed, missing, and filled surface and tooth (DMFS/DMFT) indices were estimated. Results: DMFT indices decreased in all regions between 2000 and 2012, with values of 3.3, 2.2, and 1.8 for 12-year-old children in 2000, 2006, and 2012, respectively. The prevalence of caries was higher among female versus male subjects and in rural versus urban areas. Conclusions: Despite the observed decrease in caries experience indicators in Korea, the caries prevalence remains considerably higher than that in European countries and than the targets set by WHO within the Health21 policy framework. Therefore, Korea apparently retains further potential for caries reduction. Community-based oral disease prevention programs are urgently needed to promote oral health.

Does non-institutionalized elders have a better oral health status compared to institutionalized ones? A systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 2177-2192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilky Pollansky Silva e Farias ◽  
Simone Alves de Sousa ◽  
Leopoldina de Fátima Dantas de Almeida ◽  
Bianca Marques Santiago ◽  
Antonio Carlos Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Institutionalized Elderly ◽  
Periodontal Status

Abstract This systematic review compared the oral health status between institutionalized and non-institutionalized elders. The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs and Cochrane Library, in a comprehensive and unrestricted manner. Electronic searches retrieved 1687 articles, which were analyzed with regards to respective eligibility criteria. After reading titles and abstracts, five studies were included and analyzed with respect their methodological quality. Oral status of institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly was compared through meta-analysis. Included articles involved a cross-sectional design, which investigated 1936 individuals aged 60 years and over, being 999 Institutionalized and 937 non-institutionalized elders. Studies have investigated the prevalence of edentulous individuals, the dental caries experience and the periodontal status. Meta-analysis revealed that institutionalized elderly have greater prevalence of edentulous (OR = 2.28, 95%CI = 1.68-3.07) and higher number of decayed teeth (MD = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.71-1.05) and missed teeth (MD = 4.58, 95%CI = 1.89-7.27). Poor periodontal status did not differ significantly between groups. Compared to non-institutionalized, institutionalized elders have worse dental caries experience.

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