Journal of Public Health Dentistry
Volume 72, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 8-18

Access to oral health services for urban low-income Latino children: Social ecological influences (Article)

Telleen S.* , Rhee Kim Y.O. , Chavez N. , Barrett R.E. , Hall W. , Gajendra S.
  • a Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (MC 923), School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • b College of Nursing (M/C 802), University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
  • c Maternal and Child Health Program, School of Public Health (M/C 923), University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
  • d Department of Sociology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
  • e Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health (M/C 923), University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
  • f Eastman Dental Center, University of Rochester, NY, United States

Abstract

Objectives: Using an ecological conceptual model, this study examined the social context, structural, and behavioral factors within an immigrant community that contribute to increased access and use of oral health services by Latino children. The predictors of health service use at the level of the individual, the family, the provider, and the health service system were studied for their effects on the initiation of care, continuity of care, and frequency of planned visits. Methods: In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 320 Latino mothers regarding their use of oral health services for 4-8-year-old children [Mexican (n = 221), Puerto Rican (n = 69), and Central and South American (n = 30)]. Outcome measures of dental care utilization were early age at initiation of care, continuity of care, and frequency of planned dental visits. Results: Regular planned dental visits were significantly related to the structural variables of household income and provider availability. The initiation of dental care was related to the mother's beliefs about the value of early preventive dental care. Mothers were more likely to continue care if they believed that the purpose was to keep the child's teeth healthy and had satisfactory communication with the dentist. Conclusions: Identifying the structural and behavioral factors that increase the likelihood of the use of oral health services can provide the basis for developing effective interventions specific to Latino children at the neighborhood level. The study findings can be also used for designing culturally appropriate oral health promotion programs and provider coordination of care. © 2011 American Association of Public Health Dentistry.

Author Keywords

Low income Oral health immigrants child health services Latinos Healthcare disparities

Index Keywords

patient care Models, Psychological psychological model regression analysis health insurance human statistics Chicago Dental Health Services Hispanic Americans dental procedure interview United States income Humans Hispanic Interviews as Topic preschool child Socioeconomic Factors Child, Preschool socioeconomics questionnaire Continuity of Patient Care Article Questionnaires age Age Factors Utilization Review patient attitude multilevel analysis Child Health Services child health care Patient Acceptance of Health Care Healthcare Disparities health care disparity attitude to health Insurance, Dental Health Services Accessibility health care delivery Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84859107267&doi=10.1111%2fj.1752-7325.2011.00275.x&partnerID=40&md5=9564ca0c2ffac6e50d91db1640cde8b0
DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2011.00275.x
ISSN: 00224006
Cited by: 20
Original Language: English