Early childhood oral health promotion for First Nations and Métis communities and caregivers in Manitoba

Abstract

Introduction Early childhood caries is a public health concern, and the considerable burden exhibited by Indigenous children highlights the oral health inequities across populations in Canada. Barriers include lack of access to oral health care and lack of culturally appropriate oral health promotion. The purpose of this study was to determine where and how First Nations and Métis parents, caregivers and community members learn about caring for young children’s oral health, and what ideas and suggestions they have on how to disseminate information and promote early childhood oral health (ECOH) in Indigenous communities. Methods Sharing circles and focus groups engaged eight groups of purposively sampled participants (n = 59) in four communities in Manitoba. A grounded theory approach guided thematic analysis of audiorecorded and transcribed data. Results Participants said that they learned about oral health from parents, caregivers and friends, primary care providers, prenatal programs, schools and online. Some used traditional medicines. Participants recommended sharing culturally appropriate information through community and prenatal programs and workshops; schools and day care centres; posters, mailed pamphlets and phone communication (calls and text messages) to parents and caregivers, and via social media. Distributing enticing and interactive oral hygiene products that appeal to children was recommended as a way to encourage good oral hygiene. Conclusion Evidence-based oral health information and resources tailored to First Nations and Métis communities could, if strategically provided, reach more families and shift the current trajectory for ECOH.

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

“…The results emphasise the multi-faceted circumstances in which Indigenous oral health exists for new mothers and their children – with identification of barriers across parental, structural, social and knowledge factors. Many findings from this project reinforce previously identified barriers to oral health for Indigenous communities including: availability of sugar [ 18 , 51 ], inaccessibility of oral health care [ 15 , 27 , 54 ], racism [ 27 , 52 , 55 ], poor parent oral health practices [ 53 , 56 , 57 ], lack of accessible transport [ 27 , 52 , 57 ], limited time and energy [ 50 ], competing health priorities [ 27 , 50 , 51 ], waiting times [ 27 , 52 ], financial limitations [ 27 , 50 – 52 , 55 , 58 ], school dental programs [ 50 , 52 ], limited oral health knowledge [ 27 , 53 , 54 ] and limited nutrition knowledge [ 51 , 52 ].…”

“…Mandating oral health education for all health professionals has been suggested as a way to increase accessibility of oral health [ 50 ]. The importance of culturally appropriate, ongoing and informal dissemination of oral health information has been noted elsewhere [ 52 , 54 ] and the lack of social oral health discussions identified by participants in this project reinforces the need for community-level education and health promotion.…”

“…The concept of a ‘health halo’ has been reported in previous research and occurs when nutrient or health claims lead to consumer interpretations of a product being healthier than it actually is [ 69 ]. In our project, one parent suggested using warning labels for high sugar content, similar to cigarette packaging; a First Nations participant in a Canadian study suggested the same idea: “…[T]he same scope of thinking [like] they do with cigarettes: they should put [warning labels] on the candy bars” [ 54 ]. The relationship between these factors underscores the importance of nutrition education for parents and consideration of the impact that nutrient claims on baby foods have on nutrition assumptions and food choices.…”

Examining the impact of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic period on youth cannabis use: adjusted annual changes between the pre-COVID and initial COVID-lockdown waves of the COMPASS study

“…While it cannot be determined with these data, it is possible that cannabis use among males may be more socially driven than among females [ 33 , 34 ]. Given evidence that youth who reduce their cannabis are more likely to binge drink [ 6 ], and cannabis use tends to co-occur with alcohol and vaping among youth [ 6 , 35 ], it is also possible that male youth may have transitioned between substances during the initial pandemic period. Moving forward, there is a need to both explore the pathways surrounding the sex differences identified here, and to use a similar modelling approach for examining additional substance use outcomes, specifically alcohol use, vaping (e-cigarettes), tobacco use, and poly-substance use.…”

First Nations and Metis peoples’ access and equity challenges with early childhood oral health: a qualitative study

“…Inadequate access to oral hygiene instruction, oral health supporting nutrition, and information on how to access oral healthcare could result in continued inequities and disparities [ 36 ]. It has been suggested that involving non-dental professionals and Indigenous dental care workers could be effective in delivering quick access and culturally informed care [ 34 , 37 ]. Culturally grounded models have been used and recommended as effective engagement and chronic disease prevention tools among American Indians [ 38 ].…”