Lindsay Ana Cristina, Fontenele Maria Gabriela Miranda, Bento Adriana, Cohen Steven A, Greaney Mary L, Nogueira Denise Lima
Department of Urban Public Health, Robert and Donna Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60355-636, Brazil.
Children (Basel). 2025 Jul 7;12(7):896. doi: 10.3390/children12070896.
Oral health (OH) in early childhood is a key determinant of long-term well-being, shaped by parenting-related dietary and hygiene habits. While these influences are well-documented, they remain underexplored among Brazilian immigrant families in the United States (U.S.). Therefore, this study was designed to examine how Brazilian immigrant parents' perceptions and practices regarding diet and oral hygiene affect their preschool-aged children's OH. This qualitative study consisted of in-depth interviews with Brazilian immigrant parents of preschool-aged children (ages 2-5) living in the U.S. Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted via Zoom, recorded, and transcribed in Brazilian Portuguese. Two native Brazilian researchers experienced in qualitative methods conducted a thematic analysis of the transcripts in Brazilian Portuguese using MAXQDA, a qualitative data analysis software. The analysis focused on identifying key perceptions, parenting practices, and barriers related to children's diet and OH. Parents strongly associated sugary foods with poor OH, identifying sugar as a major contributor to dental issues. Both mothers and fathers reported limiting sugar intake and encouraging good oral hygiene practices. While parents prioritized educating their children on healthy habits, barriers such as time constraints, reliance on external childcare, and economic limitations affected the consistent implementation of strategies. Brazilian immigrant parents understand the importance of diet and oral hygiene in in supporting their children's early OH but face barriers in broader social contexts, such as daycare, preschools, and communities. Interventions should aim to support parents in their caregiving roles while simultaneously addressing systemic and environmental obstacles. Public health efforts should account for cultural, economic, and contextual factors to more effectively support Brazilian immigrant families in promoting their children's OH.
幼儿期的口腔健康（OH）是长期健康的关键决定因素，受与养育相关的饮食和卫生习惯影响。虽然这些影响有充分记录，但在美国的巴西移民家庭中仍未得到充分探索。因此，本研究旨在探讨巴西移民父母对饮食和口腔卫生的认知与做法如何影响其学龄前儿童的口腔健康。这项定性研究包括对居住在美国的学龄前儿童（2至5岁）的巴西移民父母进行深入访谈。通过Zoom进行个人深入访谈，录音并转录为巴西葡萄牙语。两名有定性研究经验的巴西本土研究人员使用定性数据分析软件MAXQDA对巴西葡萄牙语的访谈记录进行了主题分析。分析重点是确定与儿童饮食和口腔健康相关的关键认知、养育方式和障碍。父母强烈将含糖食物与不良口腔健康联系起来，认为糖是导致牙齿问题的主要因素。父母双方都报告限制糖的摄入量并鼓励良好的口腔卫生习惯。虽然父母优先教育孩子养成健康习惯，但时间限制、依赖外部托儿服务和经济限制等障碍影响了策略的持续实施。巴西移民父母明白饮食和口腔卫生对支持孩子早期口腔健康的重要性，但在日托、幼儿园和社区等更广泛的社会环境中面临障碍。干预措施应旨在支持父母的照顾角色，同时解决系统性和环境障碍。公共卫生工作应考虑文化、经济和背景因素，以更有效地支持巴西移民家庭促进其子女的口腔健康。
