- Meaghan G Bennett: Master's student, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB, Canada.
Objective: Despite the vast knowledge gained through research and public health surveillance, dental caries prevalence among children from low-income households remains high. The aim of this literature review is to identify assumptions made within existing empirical, constructivist, and critical paradigms to determine how those assumptions impact knowledge and if these impacts have aided in perpetuating inequity or health disparities within this target population.
Method: A literature search of EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted to retrieve articles from peer-reviewed journals published in the last 10 years, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies. Qualitative methods included narrative research via interviews; quantitative designs included cross-sectional studies using surveys and various indices to assess oral health literacy (OHL) levels and oral health status. Exclusion criteria were non-English studies and studies that did not include female caregivers.
Results: Nine primary research articles were selected for analysis. The positivist paradigm was dominant in 7 of 9 articles. Oral health social processes, such as the lack of value placed on oral health as a component of overall health by the broader medical community and the public, were not discussed as influencing factors on OHL.
Discussion: Assumptions identified within the dominant paradigms were determined to perpetuate inequity or health disparities, confirming a link between caregivers' OHL levels and the oral health status of their children. It is critical that all health care professionals improve their understanding of factors affecting caregivers' OHL.
Conclusion: Strategies that empower and advocate for women to improve their OHL should be developed.