Children's Oral Health Initiative: workers' perspectives on its impact in First Nations communities

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• The Children's Oral Health Initiative (COHI) has addressed oral health disparities, particularly early childhood caries (ECC), in Canadian First Nations and Inuit communities since 2004.
• COHI employs a community-based strategy integrating preventive care with minimally invasive dentistry to reduce surgical interventions for oral diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the COHI program in First Nations communities in Manitoba.
• To understand the program's success from the perspective of COHI staff.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 22 participants: First Nations community-based dental therapists and dental worker aides.
• Data were collected through three focus groups and one semistructured interview.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Participants confirmed that dental therapists and aides provide essential oral care, including assessments, cleanings, fluoride applications, and sealants.
• Effective parental engagement, education, and information sharing are vital for program sustainability and community capacity building.
• Identified challenges include low enrollment, difficulties with home access and consent, limited staffing, and insufficient training opportunities for dental worker aides.

Conclusions:

• The COHI program demonstrates a positive contribution to early childhood oral health (ECOH) in First Nations communities.
• Critical areas for improvement include expanding community-based training for dental workers, increasing program awareness, and enhancing parental engagement for culturally appropriate consent and programming.