Understanding Barriers to Oral Health Care In Pregnancy: The First Step to Improv

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Oral health diseases such as childhood caries and periodontal diseases are prevalent conditions that disproportionately affect racial/ethnic minorities and disadvantaged individuals. Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting 5 times more children than asthma. Caries leads to tooth loss, with subsequent nutritional and social consequences. Adult periodontal disease affects up to 40% of reproductive age women, and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. Effective preventive and treatment measures to reduce the morbidity of caries and periodontal disease exist, and data suggest that treatment of maternal oral disease may improve the oral health of the offspring and reduce risk for adverse pregnancy outcome. However, despite the presence of these evidence-based interventions to prevent or reduce the burden of oral diseases among children and women, both caries and periodontal disease remain prevalent, particularly among low-income families and members of racial and ethnic minorities. Our long-term goal is to reduce morbidity of oral diseases among pregnant women and their children, and to eliminate disparities in oral health. We hypothesize that maternal knowledge about and attitudes toward oral health, as well as lack of access to oral health services, greatly affect maternal behaviors that promote the oral health of both the mother and her offspring. The primary objective of this study is to identify barriers to oral health care among pregnant women, particularly racial and ethic minorities and those of lower socio-economic status, and then develop intervention strategies for removing or lowering the barriers so that existing evidence-based interventions can be more effectively applied. We will pursue this objective by achieving the following specific aims: 1. Collect and analyze data to understand pregnant women's current practices, attitudes, and perceived system barriers regarding optimal dental health. 2. Test the feasibility, acceptability, and likely use of four to eight potential interventions to remove and/or reduce barriers and encourage improved oral health practices. 3. Conduct pilot study of one or more interventions developed in aim 2. This proposal brings together a multidisciplinary team with strength in oral health in pregnancy, public health programming, behavioral research, qualitative analysis and public policy. Findings from this research will provide the framework for development of innovative, culturally sensitive strategies and approaches to improve the health and well-being of mothers and their children by reducing barriers to oral health care. Oral health diseases are prevalent conditions that disproportionately affect racial/ethnic minorities and disadvantaged individuals. Despite the presence of evidence-based interventions and effective preventive and treatment measures, oral diseases remain prevalent. Our long-term goal is to reduce morbidity of oral diseases among pregnant women and their children and identify barriers to oral health care which will provide the framework for development of innovative, culturally sensitive strategies and approaches to improve the health and well-being of mothers and their children by reducing barriers to oral health care.