Assessing and addressing early childhood caries [ECC] risk factors for children enrolled in a pre and post natal home-visiting program


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

3073.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 2

Abstract #110005

Brenda Heaton, MPH¹, Michelle M. Henshaw, DDS, MPH¹, Corinna S. Culler, RDH, MPH¹, Kathy M. Lituri, RDH, MPH¹, Harpreet K. Singh, RDH, MS¹, Rosie Munoz-Lopez, MPH², and Heavenly Mitchell². (1) Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, 617-414-1172, brenda9@bu.edu, (2) Healthy Baby/Healthy Child Program, Boston Public Health Commission, 35 Northampton Street NEB 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02118

OBJECTIVE: To describe an interdisciplinary collaboration addressing ECC risk factors among clients of the Healthy Baby/Health Child [HB/HC] Program in Boston, MA.

METHODS: HB/HC provides prenatal care for pregnant women who are at high risk for preterm birth and continues to provide home visits to the families for 3 years after birth. 20 HB/HC nurses were provided with ECC specific training on risk factors and prevention strategies through formal presentations and training workshops. In addition, nurses were provided with one-on-one training by dental hygienists during routine home-visits. During the home visits, data was collected on ECC risk factors, and oral health status.

RESULTS: Preliminary findings revealed that 73% of mothers screened had untreated decay, 20% of children age 0-3 showed signs of ECC and 91% exhibited behavioral risk factors specific to ECC development. Public health nurses increased their oral health competency as shown in a post-test and are able to perform clinical data collection, and assess self-reported use of dental services, behaviors, and nutritional/child-feeding practices.

CONCLUSION: This collaboration was used to build capacity in home-visiting public health nurses to address the high oral health burden by effectively incorporating an oral health component into routine delivery of care. By introducing similar training programs into an already existing infrastructure, children who are at greater risk for ECC can be effectively targeted for prevention and appropriate follow-up. Support: CDC U48/CCU415803-05 SIP 2-01 through BU PRC, NIH U54 DE14264, 1 K23 DE00454 01

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to

1. Recognize the value of a successful collaboration between disciplines to reduce risk of early childhood caries as part of routine delivery of care.
2. Describe a program that can lead to greater identification of oral health needs and referral for dental care by non-dental personnel.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Oral Health Poster Session II

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA