Brega Angela G, Henderson William G, Harper Maya M, Thomas Jacob F, Manson Spero M, Batliner Terrence S, Braun Patricia A, Quissell David O, Wilson Anne, Tiwari Tamanna, Albino Judith
J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2019;30(1):143-160. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2019.0013.
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience poor oral health. Children and adults living on the Navajo Nation have a particularly high rate of dental decay. The literature suggests that health outcomes are often associated with the strength of one's ethnic identity. We investigated the association of ethnic identity among Native parents with oral health knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and outcomes. Analyses used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial designed to reduce dental decay among AI/AN preschoolers enrolled in the Navajo Nation Head Start Program. Greater perceived importance of ethnic identity was associated with better oral health knowledge and attitudes but was unassociated with oral health behavior and was linked to worse oral health status. Parents who were better able to speak their tribal language had greater confidence in their ability to manage their children's oral health, engaged in better oral health behavior, and reported better parental oral health status.
美国印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民（AI/ANs）的口腔健康状况较差。生活在纳瓦霍族保留地的儿童和成年人龋齿发病率尤其高。文献表明，健康结果往往与一个人的族群认同感强度相关。我们调查了原住民父母的族群认同感与口腔健康知识、态度、行为及结果之间的关联。分析使用了一项随机对照试验的基线数据，该试验旨在减少参加纳瓦霍族启蒙计划的AI/AN学龄前儿童的龋齿。更高的族群认同感重要性认知与更好的口腔健康知识和态度相关，但与口腔健康行为无关，且与更差的口腔健康状况有关。更能说本族语言的父母对管理孩子口腔健康的能力更有信心，有更好的口腔健康行为，并且报告的父母口腔健康状况更好。
