Early childhood experiences, cultural beliefs, and oral health of Mexican American women.
This qualitative article examines how financial resources, cultural beliefs, and early childhood experiences affect perceptions of oral health and dental utilization of middle-aged and older Mexican American women. Fourteen in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted. The women's ages range from 49 to 87 years. Most had not visited the dentist in more than 2 years. Most women's early childhood experiences did not include dental visits or dental instruction. Some believed tooth loss was a normal aging process. Misconceptions regarding preventive care, the belief that dental visits were only necessary when experiencing pain, and finances were the primary reasons for not visiting the dentist. The results lend insight into the oral health, self-care practices, and dental utilization of middle-aged and older immigrant Mexican American women.
California State University, Fresno, USA.
Helen B
HB
Miltiades
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003469:Culture; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D011203:Poverty; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care