Cultural Beliefs About Oral Health in Four Ethnic Groups
Author Information
Author(s): Butani Yogita, Weintraub Jane A, Barker Judith C
Primary Institution: Center to Address Disparities in Children's Oral Health at the University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Hypothesis
Does the published oral health literature adequately document cultural beliefs and practices for each specific group?
Conclusion
The available literature provides a rudimentary framework of oral health-related ideas and beliefs for specific populations.
Supporting Evidence
- 60 relevant articles were found: 16 for African-American, 30 for Chinese, 2 for Filipino, and 12 for Hispanic/Latino populations.
- Most literature was epidemiologic, focusing on disparities rather than cultural beliefs.
- Few research-based studies were located, indicating a gap in understanding cultural influences on oral health.
Takeaway
This study looked at how different cultures think about oral health and found that there's not much information available about their beliefs.
Methodology
The study involved a literature review of articles published in English from 1980 to 2006, focusing on cultural beliefs related to oral health in four ethnic groups.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to limited demographic information and generalizations about cultural beliefs.
Limitations
The review only included four ethnic groups and may not represent other minority groups; it also relied on titles and abstracts for initial selection.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on African-American, Chinese, Filipino, and Hispanic/Latino populations in the US.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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