Latinos in the USA often suffer poor oral health. Their dental insurance coverage is the lowest of any minority, and their dental culture is often associated with behaviors that merely react to pain and acute conditions. Studies of oral health among Latinos have hitherto been limited to characterization of a few socio- economic and socio-cultural variables at the individual level. In this R21 application we propose a novel, exploratory study of a well-bounded community network of people of Mexican descent. Our short term objective is to explore the utility of applying network science research methods to improve our understanding of oral health behaviors.
Our specific aims are to 1) describe the nature and distribution of social network ties, oral health risk and protective behaviors, and use of dental care within one existing community network of people of Mexican descent in the USA;and 2) examine the extent and nature of social network influence on the oral health risk and protective behavior, and the utilization of dental care of individuals within this community. Such basic structure will allow (in future projects) to contrast and refine the model with data relevant to other regions in the USA or Mexico, other Hispanic groups, other minorities, and/or generate new models. Having clearer knowledge about the factors contributing to better health behaviors will provide a foundation to craft better informed public policy, up-to-date clinical guidelines, culturally sensitive clinical and preventive care, and future research directions. Of particular interest would be to attain a superior understanding of the network structures and ties that may present key entry points to modify the relationships between actors in the community - with emphasis placed among those hubs that would be more influential to effectively disseminate actionable, accurate, and significant health and health care information.

Public Health Relevance

Hispanic dental insurance coverage is the lowest of any minority in the USA, and their dental culture is often associated with behaviors that merely react to pain and acute conditions. There is a need to understand how such behaviors are modulated beyond individual characteristics, by looking into layers of decisions made at the group and community levels. We aim to assemble social networks models to support crafting better informed public policy, up-to-date clinical guidelines, and culturally sensitive clinical and preventive care.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21DE022096-02
Application #
8525388
Study Section
Community Influences on Health Behavior (CIHB)
Program Officer
Riddle, Melissa
Project Start
2012-08-07
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2013-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$187,200
Indirect Cost
$67,200
Name
Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
603007902
City
Indianapolis
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
46202
Macy, Jonathan T; Moser, Elizabeth A S; Hirsh, Adam T et al. (2018) Factors associated with seeking preventive dental care: an integrative model exploration of behaviors in Mexican immigrants in Midwest America. BMC Oral Health 18:37
Pullen, Erin; Perry, Brea L; Maupome, Gerardo (2018) ""Does this Look Infected to You?"" Social Network Predictors of Dental Help-Seeking Among Mexican Immigrants. J Immigr Minor Health 20:399-409
Aguirre, Odette; Mariño, Rodrigo; Medina-Solís, Carlo et al. (2017) Use of Internet for General and Dental Health along Acculturation Features in a Sample of Mexican Americans. Ethn Dis 27:443-452
Shin, YoungJu; Maupome, Gerardo (2017) Segmentation of Mexican-Heritage Immigrants: Acculturation Typology and Language Preference in Health Information Seeking. J Immigr Minor Health 19:1163-1173
Maupome, G; McConnell, W R; Perry, B L (2016) Dental problems and Familismo: social network discussion of oral health issues among adults of Mexican origin living in the Midwest United States. Community Dent Health 33:303-308
Maupomé, Gerardo; Mariño, Rodrigo; Aguirre-Zero, Odette M et al. (2015) Adaptation of the Psychological-Behavioral Acculturation Scale to a Community of Urban-based Mexican Americans in the United States. Ethn Dis 25:469-78
Maupome, Gerardo; McCranie, Ann (2015) Network science and oral health research. J Public Health Dent 75:142-7