Rural Latino Farmworker Fathers' Understanding of Children's Oral Health

Overview

Journal Pediatr Dent

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2010 Nov 13

PMID 21070706

Citations 5

Authors

Matthew A Swan

Judith C Barker

Kristin S Hoeft

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: This study's purpose was to examine rural Latino fathers' understanding of their children's oral health.

Methods: A convenience sample (n=20) of fathers from a small agricultural community in California was recruited door-to-door and interviewed in their homes. Individual qualitative interviews in Spanish were conducted. Interviews were audiotaped, translated, and transcribed. Codes were developed, and the text was analyzed for recurrent themes.

Results: Fathers came from Mexico (n=15) and El Salvador (n=5). Fathers had very little understanding of the etiology and clinical signs of dental caries. Overall, 18 of 19 fathers reported that their wife was primarily responsible for taking care of the children's hygiene. Fathers agreed that children's teeth should be taken care of from a young age, considered to be after 2 years. The fathers described very minimal hygiene assistance given to children by either parent and often considered a verbal reminder to be sufficient assistance. Fathers generally thought a child did not need supervision after approximately age 4 (range=1-11 years).

Conclusions: While rural Latino fathers might not actively participate in their children's oral hygiene, they do place value on it. Men are supportive of dental treatments, albeit later than recommended. Educational messages aimed at these families will disseminate to the fathers, indirectly.

Citing Articles

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Effectiveness evaluation of Contra Caries Oral Health Education Program for improving Spanish-speaking parents' preventive oral health knowledge and behaviors for their young children.

Hoeft K, Barker J, Shiboski S, Pantoja-Guzman E, Hiatt R Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2016; 44(6):564-576.

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