Flying blind: trying to find solutions to Indigenous oral health

Silva, Andrea M de; Martin-Kerry, Jacqueline; Geale, Alexandra; Cole, Deborah

doi:10.1071/ah15157

Cited by 11 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In this study we aimed to understand from the perspective of urban Indigenous parents and carers how child oral health was impacting on their family life. According to national statistics [9], Indigenous Australians of all ages experience worse oral health outcomes than non-Indigenous Australians, yet there are few data that explores oral health from an Indigenous Australian personal perspective [9]. We found that oral health was an important issue for urban Indigenous families and maintaining oral health to a desired standard was impacting mothers and their families.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Within Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter respectfully referred to as Indigenous) children experience worse oral health than non-Indigenous children [9]. Indigenous children experience more caries, are twice as likely to be hospitalised for oral health problems and are more likely to require extraction and receive general anaesthetic than non-Indigenous children [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of oral health on Australian urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families: a qualitative study

Butten

Johnson

Hall

et al. 2019

Int J Equity Health

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Background The oral health of a child not only impacts the physical well-being of the child, but can have quality of life implications for parents and families as they endeavour to provide care and support their child’s oral health needs. Within Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are thought to experience a disproportionate burden of poor oral heath compared to non-Indigenous children. Despite the prevalence of oral health challenges, there are limited qualitative studies investigating the oral health experiences of families. The objective of the study was to explore ‘from the perspective of urban, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers’ the impact child oral health has on families. Methods Yarning circles and face-to-face interviews were used to document the experiences of ( N = 20) parents of urban, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Participants were recruited from an Aboriginal-owned and operated primary health clinic in northern Brisbane, Australia and through word of mouth. Information collected was transcribed and analysed thematically. Codes and themes were confirmed by the researcher and two participants. Results The findings indicate that oral health is an important issue for urban Indigenous families and maintaining oral health to a desired standard is having emotional, physical and financial impacts. Themes identified were financial concerns, worry about the future and juggling multiple priorities, all of which were inter-related and cyclical. Conclusions Families in this study have demonstrated that with the current policy arrangements, oral health is impacting their quality of life, contributing to stress, financial challenges and at times affecting their physical health. To address these challenges, oral health education and promotion needs a multidisciplinary approach that reaches families before children are school-aged.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of oral health on Australian urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families: a qualitative study

Butten

Johnson

Hall

et al. 2019

Int J Equity Health

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“…38 The present review has identified that the data available for the oral health of Indigenous adults living throughout Australia are more limited than those available for Indigenous children. This is despite approximately one-third of Indigenous people attending the public oral healthcare system.…”

Section: Indigenous Oral Health Australian Health Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Silva¹,

Martin-Kerry

McKee³

et al. 2017

Aust. Health Review

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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 INDIGENOUS HEAL...

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“…Reasons for these differences are multifactorial including socioeconomic disadvantage, poor access to health services, poor nutrition, heavy use of alcohol and smoking and genetic variations [4]. Similarly, Indigenous Australian children experience worse oral health than non-Indigenous children [5]. Regardless of many efforts, health inequalities, including oral health, between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians have remained for decades [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Dental Caries Increment Using Salivary Biomarkers in a Remote Indigenous Australian Child Population

Fernando

Tadakamadla

Kroon

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background The burden of childhood dental caries amongst Indigenous Australians is higher than that of other Australians. Because of differences in lifestyle and the evolutionary history of the oral microbiota associated risk indicators may differ. Our objective was to evaluate associations between caries increment, salivary biomarkers, and baseline caries status among a rural Indigenous community in Far North Queensland, Australia.MethodsThis study was part of a trial assessing effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an intervention to prevent dental caries among children. A baseline epidemiological survey and application of topical caries preventive measures was conducted in 2015, followed-up in 2016 and 2017. Saliva flow rate, pH, buffering capacity and bacterial loads were measured. Caries was scored by the International Caries Detection and Assessment system. The outcome was caries increment. Explanatory variables were sex, being in experimental or comparison group, baseline caries status, saliva flowrate and buffering capacity, pH, and salivary loads of mutans streptococci (MS), Lactobacilli (LB), and yeast. Descriptive statistics assessed frequencies, means and percentages. Chi Square tests compared caries incidence in relation to explanatory variables and Generalised Linear Models with negative binomial regression and log-link explored associations between explanatory and outcome variables. ResultsOf children caries free at baseline, significantly fewer had incipient (p=0.01) and advanced (p=0.04) caries after two years. From Univariate analysis, children in the experimental group experienced fewer tooth surfaces with advanced caries (p=0.02) than children in the comparison group. Having caries at baseline (p=0.02) and low salivary flow rates (p <0.001) saw a significant increase in advanced caries after two years. Children with high salivary loads of MS (p=0.03) and LB (p=0.004) experienced more advanced carious surfaces. Multivariable analysis revealed 58% reduction (p=0.001) in advanced caries among children with high salivary flow rates. Caries increment was 61% (p=0.03) more for incipient and 121% (p=0.007) more for advanced caries among children who harboured higher loads of MS. ConclusionAs with other ethnicities, children with low salivary flow rates and those with high loads of MS had higher incipient and advanced caries increments after two years. These risk assessments can facilitate targeted preventive interventions for such communities. Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), No: ACTRN12615000693527; date of registration: 3rd July 2015.

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Flying blind: trying to find solutions to Indigenous oral health

Cited by 11 publications

References 30 publications

Impact of oral health on Australian urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families: a qualitative study

Impact of oral health on Australian urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families: a qualitative study

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

Predicting Dental Caries Increment Using Salivary Biomarkers in a Remote Indigenous Australian Child Population

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