scholarly journals Challenges in Oral Health Provision and Utilization in the Australian Indigenous Population: A Scoping Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peivand Bastani ◽  
Yaser Sarikhani ◽  
Arash Ghanbarzadegan ◽  
Faeze Ostovar ◽  
Lisa Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Oral Health Services

Abstract Background Oral health is a vital area of public health. Access to dental services are particularly important among Indigenous populations at a global level. This scoping review aimed to investigate challenges in the provision and utilization of oral health services among Indigenous Australians. The findings may be an important contribution to the literature and facilitate policymakers in reducing inequities in dental service access and utilisation among this vulnerable population. Methods This scoping review was conducted up to June 10, 2020. Five main databases were searched, including PUBMED, SCOPUS, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE and PROQUEST. The main key words were: oral health, dental health, utilization, provision, access, Indigenous, Native, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Arksey and O’Malley`s protocol was applied, which comprises 5 steps of: (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) study selection; (4) charting the data and collating and; (5) summarising and reporting results. Thematic analysis was used to summarize and analyse the data applying MAX QDA10 software for qualitative data analysis. For a better understanding of the themes and subthemes, a thematic network was presented. Results Results show that there are six main themes and fourteen sub-themes affecting Indigenous Australians` utilization and provision of oral health services. Personal characteristics, Socio-economic status and challenges regarding access were that the main factors influencing utilization of oral health services. The findings suggest that challenges relating to public health, policymaking and service provision can affect Indigenous Australians provision to oral health services. Conclusion Benefits in Indigenous Australian access and utilization of oral health services may improve if policy makers at both national and local levels increase resourcing in this important public health sector. A deeper understanding of the social and cultural nuances driving Indigenous Australians’ reluctance to attend for dental care is crucial.

scholarly journals Oral Health & Dentistry in Bhutan: call for actions to address a public health urgency

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-46
Author(s):  
Karma Tenzin ◽  
Tshewang Gyeltshen ◽  
Gyan P Bajgai ◽  
Sonam Nyedup ◽  
Choki Choki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
World Health ◽  
Policy Dialogue ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Oral Health Services ◽  
Oral Health Policy

Introduction: Bhutan’s healthcare approach in achieving the sustainable development goal 3 (SDG 3) has been largely through primary healthcare as enshrined in the universal health coverage (UHC). Bhutan has forged a unique primary healthcare model in which oral health is integrated in its primary care initiatives. The Oral Health program under the Department of public health was established in 1999 with clear line objectives. The program has achieved commendable successes over the years. However, with changing needs, enhancing and mainstreaming of oral health and dentistry in the country must be accorded a top priority. This is particularly important as the Oral Health Policy and service standards were drafted fourteen years ago in 2007. The 2021 World Health Orgnization (WHO) agreement “to provide basic oral health services to all”, to which Bhutan is signatory, needs to be strictly implemented. Therefore, oral health dialogue was conducted to deliberate on the oral health systems in the country with experts from the field who were from within and outside Bhutan. This oral health policy dialogue generated important themes such as strategic and competent workforce, capacity development, need to transform oral health services in more people centric ways and mainstreaming oral health in other health policies.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Knowledge and Assessment of Pregnant Women with the Utilization of Dental Health Services

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 177-179
Author(s):  
Aprilia Martha Bakoil ◽  
Dinah Charlota Lerik ◽  
Sabina Gero
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Dental Health Services ◽  
Oral Health Services ◽  
The Relationship

Improving the optimal health status requires commitment and continuous effort so that a sub-standard development goals (SDGS) program is formed, one of which aims to tackle health problems in pregnant women. Dental and oral disease during pregnancy is a public health problem. The incidence of dental and oral diseases during this period is due to a lack of knowledge about oral health maintenance. The low use of service facilities by the community is related to treatment seeking behavior and ill-health concepts from the community. The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationship of knowledge and assessment of pregnant women with the use of dental health services at the Dental Clinic at the Health Centers in Kupang City. The design of this research was cross-sectional. The samples were 250 respondents, selected using proportional random sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire as an instrument, then analyzed using ordinal regression test. Based on the data analysis results, it could be concluded that there was relationship between knowledge and assessment of pregnant women with the utilization of dental and oral health services in Public Health Center in Kupang City. Keywords: knowledge; pregnant women; utilization; dental and oral health services

scholarly journals Factors influencing the perceived importance of oral health within a rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in Australia.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Tynan ◽  
David Walker ◽  
Taygan Tucker ◽  
Barry Fisher ◽  
Tarita Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Indigenous Community ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Oral Health Services ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Background: Indigenous Australians suffer from higher rates of oral disease and have more untreated dental problems and tooth extractions than the general population. Indigenous Australians also have lower rates of accessing oral health services and are more likely to visit for a problem rather than a check-up. Multiple issues effect health service and prevention programs including: characteristics of health services such as distances to health services; existence of social and cultural barriers; available wealth and social support; and, characteristics of the individual and community including the importance given to the disease. This paper seeks to explore the perceived importance of oral health within a rural Indigenous community in Australia and the factors influencing this perception.Methods: The study used a phenomenology research design incorporating focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. It was undertaken in partnership with communities’ Health Action Group who guided the focus, implementation and reporting of the research. A convenience sample was recruited from established community groups. Thematic analysis on the transcripts was completed. Results : Twenty-seven community members participated in three focus groups and twelve in-depth interviews. The study found that the community gives high priority to oral health. Factors influencing the importance include: the perceived severity of symptoms of oral disease such as pain experienced due to tooth ache; lack of enabling resources such as access to finance and transport; the social impact of oral disease on individuals including impact on their personal appearance and self-esteem; and health beliefs including oral health awareness. Participants also noted that the importance given to oral health within the community competed with the occurrence of multiple health concerns and family responsibilities.Conclusion: This paper highlights the high importance this rural Indigenous community gives to oral health. Its findings suggest that under-utilisation of oral health services is influenced by both major barriers faced in accessing oral health services; and the number and severity of competing health and social concerns within the community. The study results confirm the importance of establishing affordable, culturally appropriate, community-based oral health care services to improve the oral health of rural Indigenous communities.

Challenges in the provision and utilization of oral health services among the Australian Indigenous population: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peivand Bastani ◽  
Yaser Sarikhani ◽  
Arash Ghanbarzadegan ◽  
Faezeh Ostovar ◽  
Mahnaz Samadbeik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Indigenous Population ◽  
Oral Health Services

scholarly journals Factors influencing the perceived importance of oral health within a rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in Australia.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Tynan ◽  
David Walker ◽  
Taygan Tucker ◽  
Barry Fisher ◽  
Tarita Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Oral Health Services ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Background Indigenous Australians suffer from higher rates of oral disease, have more untreated dental problems and tooth extractions then the non-Indigenous population. In addition to this, Indigenous Australians also have lower rates of dental visits; are more likely to visit for a problem rather than a check-up and; are also more likely to present at emergency departments for oral complaints. Multiple issues effect health service uptake including the social context, characteristics of the individual and community, and enabling factors such as available wealth and social support. Additionally perceived importance of the disease to the individual or community also influence treatment seeking behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceived importance of oral health within a rural Indigenous community in Australia and the factors influencing this perception.Methods A qualitative study was completed incorporating focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Twenty- seven community members participated in three focus groups and twelve in-depth interviews.Results The study found that the community gives high priority to oral health. Factors influencing the importance given included the severity of symptoms of oral disease such as pain experience; enabling resources such as access to finance; social impact such as personal appearance; and health beliefs including oral health awareness. Respondents also noted that the importance given to oral health within the community also competed with the occurrence of multiple health concerns and family responsibilities.Conclusion This paper highlights that the under-utilisation of oral health services is not associated with the degree of importance given to oral health within the community. Under-utilisation is influenced by the major barriers faced in accessing oral health services and the number and severity of competing health and social concerns within the community. The study results confirm the importance of establishing affordable, culturally appropriate, community-based oral health care services to improve the oral health of rural Indigenous communities.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the perceived importance of oral health within a rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in Australia.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Tynan ◽  
David Walker ◽  
Taygan Tucker ◽  
Barry Fisher ◽  
Tarita Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Indigenous Community ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Oral Health Services ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Background Indigenous Australians suffer from higher rates of oral disease and have more untreated dental problems and tooth extractions than the general population. Indigenous Australians also have lower rates of accessing oral health services and are more likely to visit for a problem rather than a check-up. Multiple issues effect health service and prevention programs including: characteristics of health services such as distances to health services; existence of social and cultural barriers; available wealth and social support; and, characteristics of the individual and community including the importance given to the disease. This paper seeks to explore the perceived importance of oral health within a rural Indigenous community in Australia and the factors influencing this perception. Methods The study used a phenomenology research design incorporating focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. It was undertaken in partnership with communities’ Health Action Group who guided the focus, implementation and reporting of the research. A convenience sample was recruited from established community groups. Thematic analysis on the transcripts was completed. Results Twenty- seven community members participated in three focus groups and twelve in-depth interviews. The study found that the community gives high priority to oral health. Factors influencing the importance include: the perceived severity of symptoms of oral disease such as pain experienced due to tooth ache; lack of enabling resources such as access to finance and transport; the social impact of oral disease on individuals including impact on their personal appearance and self-esteem; and health beliefs including oral health awareness. Participants also noted that the importance given to oral health within the community competed with the occurrence of multiple health concerns and family responsibilities. Conclusion This paper highlights the high importance this rural Indigenous community gives to oral health. Its findings suggest that under-utilisation of oral health services is influenced by both major barriers faced in accessing oral health services; and the number and severity of competing health and social concerns within the community. The study results confirm the importance of establishing affordable, culturally appropriate, community-based oral health care services to improve the oral health of rural Indigenous communities.

scholarly journals El Nacimiento del Pueblo Mestizo: Critical Discourse on Historical Trauma, Community Resilience and Healing

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-275
Author(s):  
Lisa Cacari Stone ◽  
Magdalena Avila ◽  
Bonnie Duran
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Historical Trauma ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Field Notes

Purpose. Historical trauma has been widely applied to American Indian/Alaska Native and other Indigenous populations and includes dimensions of language, sociocultural, and land losses and associated physical and mental disorders, as well as economic hardships. Insufficient evidence remains on the experiences of historical trauma due to waves of colonization for mixed-race Mexican people with indigenous ancestry (el pueblo mestizo). Research Question. Drawing from our critical lenses and epistemic advantages as indigenous feminist scholars, we ask, “How can historical trauma be understood through present-day discourse of two mestizo communities? What are public health practice and policy implications for healing historical trauma among mestizo populations?” Methodology and Approach. We analyzed the discourse from two community projects: focus groups and ethnographic field notes from a study in the U.S.–Mexico border region (2012–2014) and field notes and digital stories from a service-learning course in northern New Mexico (2016–2018). Findings. Our analysis describes the social and historical experiences of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, Chicanas/os, and Nuevo Mexicano peoples in the southwestern border region of the United States. We found four salient themes as manifestations of “soul-wound”: (1) violence/fear, (2) discrimination/shame, (3) loss, and (4) deep sorrow. Themes mitigating the trauma were community resiliency rooted in “querencia” (deep connection to land/home/people) and “conscientizacion” (critical consciousness). Conclusion. Historical trauma experienced by mestizo Latinx communities is rooted in local cultural and intergenerational narratives that link traumatic events in the historic past to contemporary local experiences. Future public health interventions should draw on culturally centered strength-based resilience approaches for healing trauma and advancing health equity.

scholarly journals Does the implementation of a national oral health policy reduce inequalities in oral health services utilization? The Brazilian experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Helena Rodrigues Galvão ◽  
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli
Keyword(s):  
Health Policy ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Services Utilization ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Services Utilization ◽  
Index Of Inequality ◽  
Oral Health Services ◽  
Oral Health Policy

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess the trend in income-related inequalities in oral health services utilization by the Brazilian population from 1998 to 2013. This period represents a timeline that includes different stages of implementation of the National Oral Health Policy. Methods The design was based on repeated cross-sectional surveys using secondary data from household-based studies carried out in Brazil in 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. The dependent variable was “having access to a dentist appointment at least once in a lifetime (yes/no).” Monthly household per capita income, based on Brazil’s minimum wage, was included as the main independent variable. To measure the inequalities in oral health access related to economic position, the following complex indexes based on regression were used: (a) the slope index of inequality (SII) and (b) the relative index of inequality (RII). Results There was a reduction in the percentage of individuals who never had a dentist appointment for all age groups and income classifications. In general, there was a reduction trend in absolute inequality for all age groups (p < 0.001). The relative inequality and reduction trend were different between the age groups studied. Conclusions The National Oral Health Policy was very important for expanding free of charge, public access to dental appointment. However, despite policy implementation, there continues to be high levels of inequality in access to dental consultation. Assessing which strategies are necessary to overcome this challenge is discussed.

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