Rural Puerto Rican women's views on children's oral health: a qualitative community-based study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine women's views on beliefs, preferences, and behaviors relevant to children's oral health.


METHODS
Women of childbearing age and mothers of women of childbearing age were recruited from 2 rural Puerto Rican communities to participate in 24 focus groups. One hundred fifty women participated. Participants were asked about their awareness and knowledge of childhood decay and their child-feeding and oral care attitudes and practices. Analysis consisted of a comprehensive content review of participant's responses.


RESULTS
Participants used a variety of infant and toddler feeding practices, including breastfeeding and prolonged bottle use. Children progressed through feeding stages based on mother's experience, older relatives' advice, and child readiness. Grandmothers were considered trusted and reliable sources of information. Many believed that dental disease did not affect infants and were unaware of el síndrome del biberón (baby bottle tooth decay, SIB). Participants believed that decay was caused by too much sugar and prolonged bottle use and only affected children. Dental visits were rare in very young children, unless conspicuous decay or pain was present. Mothers' dental experiences influenced seeking children's preventive and treatment visits.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights caregivers' perceptions, which are inconsistent with maximizing children's oral health. This information can be used to develop culturally appropriate, community based oral health programs.
López del Valle
Lydia M
LM
University of Puerto Rico School of Dentistry, Research Center, Surgical Sciences Department, San Juan. llopez@rcm.upr.edu
Riedy
Christine A
CA
Weinstein
Phil
P
D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000523:psychology*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009909:Oral Health; D011647:Puerto Rico; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population