Early childhood caries among Hawaii public school children, 1989 vs. 1999.
Utilizing a standardized oral health assessment tool, public school children ages 5 through 9 were evaluated Statewide in 1989 and 1999. In both samples, it was demonstrated that Asian & Pacific Islander children (as a group), by contrast with Caucasian, African Amercan or Hispanic children, suffered from disproportionately high rates of dental caries, were more likely to have unmet treatment needs and less likely to utilize dental sealants. Significant variance among oral health/ oral disease indicators was found among ethnic and regional groups and all Hawaii cohorts were found to have poorer oral health indicators by contrast with U.S. national findings. Data was not found to follow any particular pattern with regards to urban vs. rural settings. This report shows the value of considering a variety of oral health indicators in evaluating the health of a community. More research needs to be done in evaluating the influence of socioeconomic status and cultural beliefs and practices on the oral health of young children in Hawai'i.
Greer
Mark H K
MH
Dental Health Division, Department of Health, State of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA. mhkgreer@mail.health.state.hi.usl
Tengan
Susan L
SL
Hu
Karen I
KI
Takata
Joyce T
JT
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003469:Culture; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009909:Oral Health; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants