Pam Nicol|Arwa Al-Hanbali|Nigel M. King|Linda Slack?Smith|Sarah Cherian
Informing a culturally appropriate approach to oral health and dental care for pre-school refugee children: a community participatory study
University of Western Australia|University of Western Australia|University of Western Australia|University of Western Australia|Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
preschool children families recently settled refugees often high rates early childhood caries ecc ecc associated high level morbidity largely preventable however effective culturally appropriate models care lacking study aimed provide deeper understanding refugee experience related early oral health exploring preschool refugee families understanding ecc child oral health ii experiences accessing dental services iii barriers enablers achieving improved oral health knowledge gained critical development effective early oral health programs refugee childrencommunity based participatory qualitative methodology using focus groups resettled refugee families community refugee nurse interviews community reference group established bilingual community research associate employed transcripts analysed thematic content using nvivo softwarethere 44 participants eight focus groups nine countries origin five interviews emergent themes major influence parents previous experience including beliefs deciduous baby teeth traditional feeding practices poverty consequent lack understanding importance early oral health early dental caries ii burden resettlement including prioritising parenting learning new foods assimilate community iii refugees difficulties accessing information dental services role schools addressing issues opportunities change model proposedthe main implication study demonstration enhanced understanding refugee experience inform improvement early oral prevention treatment community participatory methodology study provided basis crosscultural understanding already assisted translating findings raising awareness provision targeted refugee oral health services