Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
13.7K
Racism and Oral Health Outcomes among Pregnant Canadian Aboriginal Women
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
|February 9, 2016
Summary
Racism negatively impacts pregnant Indigenous women's oral health in Canada. Experiencing racism was linked to poorer oral health outcomes and barriers in accessing dental care services.
Area of Science:
- Indigenous Health
- Oral Health Research
- Social Determinants of Health
Background:
- Racism is a significant stressor affecting Indigenous populations.
- Oral health is crucial for overall well-being, especially during pregnancy.
- Understanding the link between racism and oral health in pregnant Indigenous women is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between racism and oral health outcomes.
- To identify specific oral health indicators affected by racism.
- To inform interventions addressing racism's impact on maternal and child oral health.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of baseline data from 541 pregnant First Nations and Métis women in a Canadian caries preventive trial.
- Utilized the Measure of Indigenous Racism Experience to quantify racism.
- Employed logistic regression to determine associations between racism and oral health outcomes.
Main Results:
- One-third of participants reported experiencing racism in the past year.
- Racism was significantly associated with outcomes such as needing dentures, seeking off-reserve dental care, perceived need for preventive care, flossing habits, natural tooth count, dental fear, orthodontic history, and quality of life impacts.
- Racism acts as a barrier to accessing dental care services for Indigenous women.
Conclusions:
- Racism is demonstrably linked to a range of negative oral health outcomes in pregnant Indigenous women.
- Addressing racism is essential for improving oral health equity and access to care.
- Policy and program development must consider the pervasive effects of racism on maternal and child oral health.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
19
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
19
01:27The Oral Microbiota
14
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
14
01:15Teeth
2.1K
The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
2.1K
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
95.9K
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...
95.9K
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
15
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
15
02:16Surveys
17.2K
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
17.2K