NURS 4010 WK 6 PRACTICUM

The rate of oral disease infection among Hispanic children is quite alarming. According to Kabore (2014), the rate of oral disease prevalence among Hispanic children living in rural areas is quite different from that of non-Hispanic children living in urban areas. For instance, the prevalence rate is 64% and 40% of Hispanic children and 50% and 40% for non-Hispanic children. Inadequate knowledge and high poverty levels have played a big role in the increase of oral disease infection among Hispanic children.  

Developing appropriate cultural interventions will play a significant role towards minimizing and mitigating the spread of oral disease infection. According to (Anderson, Calvillo and Fongwa 2007), community-based interventions helps a population at risk to access medical care on a continuous basis and at ease. Several cultural interventions can be utilized to mitigate oral disease infection among Hispanic children. Oral health promotion and eliminating the disparity in oral care between the rich and poor can significantly reduce the spread of oral disease infection among Hispanic children (World Health Organization, 2004

Promotion of oral health will play a vital role towards preventing oral disease infection among Hispanic children. It should strive for creating awareness to members of the Hispanic community on best practices for ensuring better oral health. According to Andes (2012), Hispanic children are mostly affected by oral diseases because they don’t have adequate knowledge with regards to oral health. These promotions should be regular, and they should aim towards informing members of the Hispanic group the benefits of having good dental hygiene (Anderson, Calvillo, and Fongwa, 2007).

Eliminating the disparity between the rich and the poor with regards access to oral health is also beneficial in preventing oral disease infection among Hispanic children. According to Shaffer (2004), Hispanic children are more vulnerable to oral disease infection due to lack of access to oral care. Therefore, efforts should be made towards bringing health facilities to their proximity so that they can have access to oral health like the well privileged children. This will ensure equal access to oral health by the poor and the rich, and it will prevent oral disease inf These two interventions will make a big difference towards preventing the spread of oral diseases. For instance, oral health promotion will help to change the perceptions of Hispanic people in relation to oral health as they believe that general hygiene is of more importance than dental hygiene. Therefore, an effective oral health promotion will have an impact on changing their perceptions with regard to oral health. On the other hand, eliminating the disparity between the rich and the poor in relation to oral care will prevent the spread of oral disease as the Hispanic population will now have access to oral care (Anderson, Calvillo and Fongwa, 2007).

I will modify these interventions in several ways in order to ensure that they are cultural sensitive and meaningful. First and foremost, I will structure the promotions in such a way that they mainly focus on the needs of the Hispanic population, that is the benefits of having good oral hygiene. Lastly, I will ensure equal resource sharing of health facilities so as to ensure that no group is disadvantaged.

References

Anderson, N, Calvillo, R, & Fongwa, N. (2007). Community-Based Approaches to Strengthen

Cultural Competency in Nursing Education and Practice. Journal of Tran Cultural

 Nursing, 18 (1-S), 49s-59s.

Andes, K., et al. (2012). Georgia Latino health report 2012. Hispanic Health Coalition of

 Georgia: Atlanta

Kabore, H., Smith, C., Bernal., J, Parker, D., Csukas, S.,& Chapple-McGruder, T. (2014). The

Burden of Oral Health in Georgia. Georgia Department of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health, Office of MCH Epidemiology, Georgia Oral Health Program.        

World Health Organization (2004). Evaluation of Community-Based Oral Health Promotion and

 Oral Disease Prevention. Retrieved from

http://www.who.int/oral_health/publications/orh_cdh21-4_p1to11.pdf