Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
Volume 13, Issue 3, 1985, Pages 140-142

Self‐reported health behavior and dental knowledge of a migrant worker population (Article)

Woolfolk M.P.* , Sgan‐Cohen H.D. , Bagramian R.A. , Gunn S.M.
  • a Department of Community Dentistry, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • b Department of Community Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, Hebrew University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
  • c Department of Community Dentistry, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • d Department of Community Dentistry, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Abstract

Abstract In conjunction with operation of a summer school‐based dental program in Michigan, 101 children from migrant families, primarily Mexican‐American, completed questionnaires relating demographic background, past dental experience, and knowledge of caries preventive methods. A smaller number of available mothers were asked these questions plus others relating to family dental problems, diet and knowledge of periodontal disease. Adults and children reported similar demographic backgrounds. Most children (68.7%) listed brushing as the best way to prevent cavities as did 60% of the mothers. Less than 2% of the children considered use of fluoride in any form as the best way to prevent cavities and only two of 20 mothers mentioned fluoride in this context. Members of this selected population were weak in their knowledge of the relation between a sweet diet and caries, the relation between oral hygiene and periodontal health, and the role of fluorides in caries prevention. Copyright © 1985, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Author Keywords

behavioral dental science, dental knowledge

Index Keywords

cultural anthropology Michigan human ethnic group Oral Hygiene mouth hygiene ethnology Mexico Health Education, Dental Hispanic Americans United States Dental Care attitude preschool child Child, Preschool dental caries Mothers Article mother adult migration health education Transients and Migrants attitude to health Culture Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0022081551&doi=10.1111%2fj.1600-0528.1985.tb00429.x&partnerID=40&md5=a1e39b23162f86c4cc78497ae1ffd32f
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1985.tb00429.x
ISSN: 03015661
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English