Trivedi, Ami
(2023)
Supportive fathers can promote children’s oral health.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Purpose. Few studies address the role of fathers in child oral health. The purpose of this study was to examine mothers’ perception of fathers’ impact on children’s oral health.
Design. In-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews.
Setting. Face-to-face interviews with mothers recruited in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the state of West Virginia between 2018–2020.
Participants. We conducted 126 semi-structured interviews with mothers of children ages 3-5 years old.
Method. Mothers completed 30 to 60-minute qualitative interviews, which consisted of open-ended questions on mothers’ social relationships that affected their child’s dental visits, oral hygiene, and diet. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Template analysis was utilized.
Results. We found that 30% (n=38) of mothers described that their child’s father had a positive impact on their child’s oral health by performing high-quality child dental hygiene and promoting a low-cariogenic diet.
Conclusion. Our results support the intentional inclusion of fathers in the promotion of child dental health because of the positive impact that they can impart on child dental hygiene and diet. This research has the public health significance of investigating how fathers, as a part of mother’s social networks, contribute to the care of their children’s oral health. Social support and interpersonal relationships are a key component of the social determinants of health and can affect children’s health, including oral health, both positively and negatively.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Burgette, Jaqueline | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Balakrishnan, Nyla | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Finegold, David | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
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| Date: |
15 May 2023 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Multidisciplinary MPH |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Article Type: |
Essay |
| Date Deposited: |
15 May 2023 20:30 |
| Last Modified: |
03 May 2024 16:26 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/44808 |
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