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A storytelling intervention reduces childhood caries risk behaviors among American Indian and Alaska Native mothers in Northern California
Author(s) -
Heaton Brenda,
Crawford Andrew J.,
Wimsatt Maureen A.,
Henshaw Michelle,
Riedy Christine A.,
Barker Judith C.,
Garcia Raul I.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/jphd.12318
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , storytelling , oral health , medicine , early childhood caries , family medicine , clinical psychology , nursing , narrative , linguistics , philosophy
Objectives To evaluate a storytelling intervention targeting the oral health beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors of AIAN pregnant women and mothers. Methods Fifty‐three adult AIAN women from three tribal communities in Northern California participated. The intervention story delivered oral health messaging using a traditional storytelling format. The effect of the intervention on self‐reported oral health behaviors, dental knowledge, and beliefs was assessed using a pretest‐posttest design, with an additional six‐month follow‐up. Tests of repeated measures using Generalized Linear Models were conducted to assess changes in oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors. Results Knowledge and beliefs significantly increased as a result of the intervention and persisted after six months. A consistent, significant increase in positive oral health behaviors from baseline to six‐months was also observed. Conclusions The results of this intervention study suggest promise for traditional storytelling to increase oral health‐related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors among self‐identified AIAN pregnant women and mothers.