Dimensional Analysis of Psychosocial Barriers to Prevention of Early Childhood Caries Among Recent Immigrants

The objective of this article is to define the underlyingdimensions of psychosocial barriers to obtaining and providing dental care for youngchildren among recent immigrants. Fifteen focus groups were conducted with 99 primarycaregivers from African, South Asian, and Chinese recent immigrants. A secondaryanalysis of identified barriers using dimensional analysis methodology was performed todetermine dimensions and properties of barriers. The analysis continued untilirreducible properties were found or emerging dimensions were not relevant to the study.Identified dimensions were associated with barriers and individuals. Type, number,level, objectiveness, nature, and impact were barrier-related; awareness andcontrollability were individual-related dimensions. Type refers to barriers themselves.Number and level indicate the amount and location of barriers, respectively.Objectiveness refers to the extent that perceived barrier reflects reality and natureindicates its intrinsic characteristic. Impact concerns behaviors, goals, and outcomescompromised by barriers. Awareness alludes to the extent that individuals are aware ofthe barriers and controllability explains how much control people perceive to have overbarriers. Identified dimensions are useful for better understanding and addressingexisting barriers to children’s optimal oral health