Immigrants constitute 18.2 % of the whole population in Norway. Health inequalities were previously reported, and immigrant status has been associated with a high risk of caries and obesity in children. Lack of parental knowledge, poor communication, ethnic and cultural differences are suggested to be reasons for the observed discrepancies. Therefore, research-based knowledge about the social, psycho-social and cognitive factors, that direct health / dental health-related behavior in families with an immigrant background is needed.
Aims The main goal of this project is to assess attitudes and behaviors related to health/oral health among immigrant parents with newborn children (0-6 months). Develop an intervention programs with the aim of increasing the parent's knowledge of the children's oral hygiene/food habits and to evaluate in a follow-up study the effect of intervention on parents' knowledge and attitude with regard to dental caries and obesity.
Methods Parents with immigrant status will be recruited from primary health centers located in the western part of Norway when meeting for children's vaccination. Primary health care centers will be conveniently divided into an intervention and control group. Intervention in form of a health/dental health information translated into different native language will be provided for the intervention group. The control group will receive regular primary care health information. Efficacy of the intervention will be assessed as differences in change scores between intervention and control group regarding parental attitudes, knowledge and behaviors and children's quality of life related to health and oral health, children's body mass index and early childhood caries. Objective of this work are consistent with community needs to eliminate health/social inequalities and it is anticipated that a culturally adapted interventions can be implemented among immigrant families at a moderate cost.
Parents having newborn infants (0-6 months) with Non-Western immigrant background
The parents will be excluded if they cannot understand and sign a consent form and are not willing to follow the the clinical trial procedures.
Oral Health Centre of Expertise in Western Norway
Lead sponsor
University of Bergen
Collaborator
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Collaborator