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Article

Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding Their Preschool Children’s Oral Health: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States

by
Denise Lima Nogueira
1,
Maria Gabriela Miranda Fontenele
2,
Adriana Bento
3,
Steven A. Cohen
4,
Mary L. Greaney
4 and
Ana Cristina Lindsay
5,*
1
Department of Nursing, Faculty Luciano Feijão, Sobral 62050-215, Ceará, Brazil
2
Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60355-636, Ceará, Brazil
3
Brazilian Community Partner, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
4
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
5
Department of Urban Public Health, Robert and Donna Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(12), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121574
Submission received: 9 October 2024 / Revised: 24 November 2024 / Accepted: 25 November 2024 / Published: 27 November 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Behavioral and Mental Health)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Parents’ beliefs and practices significantly shape young children’s oral health (OH), particularly during preschool years when these habits are being established. Immigrant parents often face challenges in promoting OH due to cultural, financial, and logistical barriers. This qualitative study explored OH beliefs, practices, and barriers among Brazilian immigrant mothers in the United States (U.S.). Semi-structured interviews, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), were conducted with mothers of children aged 2–5 years. Thematic analysis, also guided by the HBM, revealed four key themes: (1) beliefs about children’s OH; (2) awareness of the parent’s role in fostering early OH behaviors; (3) identification of risk and protective factors affecting children’s OH; and (4) perceived barriers to maintaining children’s optimal OH. Mothers emphasized the importance of proper oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups, and balanced diets for promoting children’s OH. Despite recognizing their role in supporting oral hygiene routines and care, mothers noted barriers such as limited access to care, linguistic barriers, and difficulty adopting and maintaining healthy OH practices due to work and family demands. Notably, 96.6% (n = 28) of the mothers scored low on the SASH scale (SASH < 2.99), reflecting low acculturation levels, which may further contribute to these challenges. Study findings highlight the critical role of parental beliefs and practices in shaping early OH behaviors and the unique challenges faced by Brazilian immigrant mothers. Culturally relevant public health interventions, including tailored education and improved access to affordable dental care, are essential for enhancing OH outcomes in young children from these families.
Keywords: oral health; Brazilian immigrant mothers; preschool children; health belief model; qualitative study oral health; Brazilian immigrant mothers; preschool children; health belief model; qualitative study

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MDPI and ACS Style

Nogueira, D.L.; Miranda Fontenele, M.G.; Bento, A.; Cohen, S.A.; Greaney, M.L.; Lindsay, A.C. Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding Their Preschool Children’s Oral Health: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 1574. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121574

AMA Style

Nogueira DL, Miranda Fontenele MG, Bento A, Cohen SA, Greaney ML, Lindsay AC. Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding Their Preschool Children’s Oral Health: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024; 21(12):1574. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121574

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nogueira, Denise Lima, Maria Gabriela Miranda Fontenele, Adriana Bento, Steven A. Cohen, Mary L. Greaney, and Ana Cristina Lindsay. 2024. "Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding Their Preschool Children’s Oral Health: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 21, no. 12: 1574. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121574

APA Style

Nogueira, D. L., Miranda Fontenele, M. G., Bento, A., Cohen, S. A., Greaney, M. L., & Lindsay, A. C. (2024). Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding Their Preschool Children’s Oral Health: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(12), 1574. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121574

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