Maupome Gerardo, Aguirre-Zero Odette, Westerhold Chi
Preventive and Community Dentistry, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Oral Biology, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
J Public Health Dent. 2015 Spring;75(2):93-100. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12076. Epub 2014 Oct 20.
The objectives of this study were to identify dental hygiene themes voiced by adults and teenagers of Mexican origin [or Mexican Americans (MAs)] and place these themes within the larger landscape of oral health and dental care perceptions.
Interviews with urban-based MAs were analyzed to identify barriers, beliefs, and behaviors influencing engagement in dental hygiene practices.
Adult (n = 16, ages 33-52) and teenage (n = 17, ages 14-19) MAs reported themes pertaining to structural factors (financial and economic-related barriers, the dual challenges of reduced access to care vis-à-vis successfully navigating the dental care system, and the effects of reduced social support derived from migration) and to individual factors (different agendas between MAs and health systems for dental care utilization and indications for oral self-care, including limited dental hygiene instruction from professionals and larger impacts from school-based and mass media). Also, prior experiences with dental hygiene, prevention, and associated themes were characterized by a range of attitudes from fatalistic to highly determined agency. Good family upbringing was instrumental for appropriate dental hygiene, anteceding good oral health; and outlining a loose structure of factors affecting oral health such as diet, having "weak" teeth, or personal habits.
Themes from adults and teenagers in the Midwest United States were generally similar to other groups of MA parents and younger children. Dental hygiene was not salient relative to other oral health and dental care matters. Several opportunities for improvement of knowledge and enhancing motivation for dental hygiene practices were identified, both within and outside professional resources.
本研究的目的是确定墨西哥裔成年人和青少年（或墨西哥裔美国人）所表达的口腔卫生主题，并将这些主题置于口腔健康和牙科护理观念的更广阔背景中。
对居住在城市的墨西哥裔美国人进行访谈，分析影响其参与口腔卫生实践的障碍、观念和行为。
成年墨西哥裔美国人（n = 16，年龄33 - 52岁）和青少年墨西哥裔美国人（n = 17，年龄14 - 19岁）报告了与结构因素（与财务和经济相关的障碍、获得护理机会减少与成功应对牙科护理系统的双重挑战，以及移民导致社会支持减少的影响）和个人因素（墨西哥裔美国人和卫生系统在牙科护理利用和口腔自我护理指征方面的不同议程，包括专业人员提供的有限口腔卫生指导以及学校和大众媒体的更大影响）相关的主题。此外，先前在口腔卫生、预防及相关主题方面的经历表现出从宿命论到高度坚定行动的一系列态度。良好的家庭教育有助于养成适当的口腔卫生习惯，从而带来良好的口腔健康；并勾勒出影响口腔健康的一系列因素，如饮食、牙齿“脆弱”或个人习惯。
美国中西部成年人和青少年的主题与其他墨西哥裔美国家长和儿童群体总体相似。相对于其他口腔健康和牙科护理问题，口腔卫生并不突出。在专业资源内外都发现了一些提高口腔卫生知识和增强口腔卫生实践动机的机会。
