Barriers to Care-Seeking for Children’s Oral Health Among Low-Income Caregivers

Bibliographic Data

ID11037700
AuthorsKelly (0000-0003-1045-4615, University of Louisville), Susan E Kelly (Susan E. Kelly, Catherine J. Binkley, and Bruce S. Gale are with the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. William P. Neace was with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation Louisville Center, Louisville, at the time of the study.), Catherine J Binkley (Susan E. Kelly, Catherine J. Binkley, and Bruce S. Gale are with the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. William P. Neace was with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation Louisville Center, Louisville, at the time of the study.), William P Neace (Susan E. Kelly, Catherine J. Binkley, and Bruce S. Gale are with the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. William P. Neace was with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation Louisville Center, Louisville, at the time of the study.), William Neace (University of Louisville), Bruce S Gale (Susan E. Kelly, Catherine J. Binkley, and Bruce S. Gale are with the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. William P. Neace was with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation Louisville Center, Louisville, at the time of the study.)
Year2005
Volume95
Issue8
Pages1345-1351
Publication date2005-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2004.045286
PMID16043666
PMCIDPMC1449365
OpenAlexW2025841202
LanguageEN
Citations received36
References cited16

Objectives. We identified psychosocial, structural, and cultural barriers to seeking dental care among nonutilizing caregivers of Medicaid-enrolled children. Methods. We used Medicaid utilization records to identify utilizing and nonutilizing African American and White caregivers of Medicaid-enrolled children in Jefferson County, Kentucky. We conducted 8 focus groups (N=76) with a stratified random sample of responding caregivers; transcripts were qualitatively analyzed. Results. Psychosocial factors associated with utilization included oral health beliefs, norms of caregiver responsibility, and positive caregiver dental experiences. Utilizing groups reported higher education; health beliefs included identifying oral health with overall health and professional preventive dental care with caregiver responsibility for children’s overall health. These beliefs may mediate shared structural barriers, including transportation, school absence policies, discriminatory treatment, and difficulty locating providers who accept Medicaid. Expectation of poor oral health among some low-income caregivers was among factors identified with nonutilization. Conclusions. Disadvantaged caregivers reported multiple barriers to accessing dental care for their children. Providers, Medicaid administrators, and schools must coordinate steps to encourage caregiver-controlled dental care, build trust, and link professional preventive dental care with caregiver responsibility for children’s overall health

Dental care · Dental insurance · Disadvantaged · Family medicine · Health care · Medicaid · Oral health · Oral health care · Poverty · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Dental Health and Care Utilization · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Nursing · Oral microbiology and periodontitis research · Psychology · Gerontology

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