Bower E, Newton J T
Department of Oral Health Services Research & Dental Public Health, GKT Dental Institute, London.
Community Dent Health. 2007 Sep;24(3):149-55.
To explore the processes involved in oral health acculturation for Albanian-speakers in south London.
A qualitative study utilizing 10 in-depth, semi-structured interviews and two focus groups with a purposive sample of 23 Albanian-speakers. Participants were recruited through community groups and by a snowball technique. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method.
Participants attended the dentist more regularly and brushed their teeth more frequently in the U.K., particularly those from lower social class groups. However, young people consumed more sweet foods and drinks than in Kosovo. The priority of oral health was higher in the U.K. for most participants. Mothers of young children were more interested in prevention in the U.K., mainly as a result of receiving oral health information from health visitors and agencies such as Sure Start. However, oral health priorities generally remained treatment focused. Participants mainly attributed behavioural and attitudinal changes to structural and material factors such as the absence of war, higher living standards, better access to oral health information, products and dental services, and the greater availability of highly desirable sweet foods and drinks in the U.K.
Understanding changes in social context may be crucial for comprehending the processes of oral health acculturation in immigrant populations. Material and structural changes which impact on oral health behaviours may be overlooked. Improving oral health knowledge can be a crucial step in shifting oral health priorities from a treatment to a prevention focus. However, unhealthy choices may persist due to the impact of wider cultural norms.
探讨伦敦南部说阿尔巴尼亚语的人群口腔健康文化适应过程。
一项定性研究，采用10次深入的半结构化访谈和两个焦点小组，样本为23名说阿尔巴尼亚语的有目的抽样参与者。通过社区团体和滚雪球技术招募参与者。使用持续比较法分析数据。
在英国，参与者看牙医的频率更高，刷牙也更频繁，尤其是来自社会阶层较低群体的人。然而，年轻人比在科索沃时食用更多的甜食和饮料。对大多数参与者来说，口腔健康在英国的优先级更高。幼儿母亲在英国对预防更感兴趣，主要是因为从健康访视员和“确保开端”等机构获得了口腔健康信息。然而，口腔健康的重点通常仍集中在治疗上。参与者主要将行为和态度的变化归因于结构和物质因素，如没有战争、生活水平提高、更容易获得口腔健康信息、产品和牙科服务，以及英国有更多非常受欢迎的甜食和饮料。
了解社会背景的变化对于理解移民人口的口腔健康文化适应过程可能至关重要。可能会忽视影响口腔健康行为的物质和结构变化。提高口腔健康知识可能是将口腔健康重点从治疗转向预防的关键一步。然而，由于更广泛文化规范的影响，不健康的选择可能会持续存在。
