Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Nations, Marilyn K
Data de Publicação: 2008
Outros Autores: Calvasina, Paola Gondim, Martin, Michele N, Dias, Hilma Fontenele
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Cadernos de Saúde Pública
Texto Completo: https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/3607
Resumo: This anthropological study critically evaluates Brazilian caregivers' symbolic production and significance of their malnourished offspring's primary teeth, as well as their own, and describes popular dental practices. From January to June 2004, ethnographic interviews of 27 poor, low-literacy mothers were conducted at a public Malnutrition Treatment Center in Fortaleza, Ceará State. Participant observation of clinical pathways and home environments supplemented the data. Content analysis was performed. Results confirm that primary teeth are imbued with cultural significance in Northeast Brazil. Mothers examine mouths, perceive signs of decay, associate primary with permanent tooth healthiness, identify ethnodental illnesses, seek assistance, and perform rituals with exfoliated teeth. The mother's motivation to care for primary teeth is sparked by her memories of past toothache and attempts to avoid stigma and discrimination. Social determinants, not mothers' beliefs or behaviors, are the most critical obstacles to effective dental care. Legitimizing lay knowledge and empowering caregivers and children can improve oral health in Northeast Brazil.
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spelling Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast BrazilDeciduous ToothMaternal BehaviorCultural AnthropologyThis anthropological study critically evaluates Brazilian caregivers' symbolic production and significance of their malnourished offspring's primary teeth, as well as their own, and describes popular dental practices. From January to June 2004, ethnographic interviews of 27 poor, low-literacy mothers were conducted at a public Malnutrition Treatment Center in Fortaleza, Ceará State. Participant observation of clinical pathways and home environments supplemented the data. Content analysis was performed. Results confirm that primary teeth are imbued with cultural significance in Northeast Brazil. Mothers examine mouths, perceive signs of decay, associate primary with permanent tooth healthiness, identify ethnodental illnesses, seek assistance, and perform rituals with exfoliated teeth. The mother's motivation to care for primary teeth is sparked by her memories of past toothache and attempts to avoid stigma and discrimination. Social determinants, not mothers' beliefs or behaviors, are the most critical obstacles to effective dental care. Legitimizing lay knowledge and empowering caregivers and children can improve oral health in Northeast Brazil.Este estudo antropológico analisa a produção simbólica de cuidadoras brasileiras sobre a sua dentição e a de seus filhos desnutridos, descrevendo práticas populares de cuidados em saúde bucal. De janeiro a junho de 2004, foram conduzidas entrevistas etnográficas com 27 cuidadoras, numa instituição pública, no tratamento de desnutrição em Fortaleza, Ceará. A observação participante da dinâmica de atendimento e do ambiente domiciliar suplementaram os dados. Foi utilizada a análise temática. Os resultados confirmam que os dentes decíduos são imbuídos de significados culturais no nordeste brasileiro. As mães examinam as bocas dos filhos, percebem sinais de cárie, associam dentes decíduos saudáveis com permanentes hígidos, identificam enfermidades etnodentárias, procuram assistência e praticam rituais com dente decíduo esfoliado. A motivação das mães para o cuidado com dente decíduo é envolvida por experiências de dor de dente e tentativas de evitar estigma e discriminação. Dificuldades de acesso, serviços precários, pobreza e desigualdade social colocam em risco a saúde bucal das crianças e não crenças e comportamentos maternos. A legitimação do conhecimento de cuidadoras e seu empoderamento podem melhorar a saúde bucal no nordeste brasileiro.Reports in Public HealthCadernos de Saúde Pública2008-04-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontext/htmlapplication/pdfhttps://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/3607Reports in Public Health; Vol. 24 No. 4 (2008): AprilCadernos de Saúde Pública; v. 24 n. 4 (2008): Abril1678-44640102-311Xreponame:Cadernos de Saúde Públicainstname:Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)instacron:FIOCRUZenghttps://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/3607/7307https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/3607/7308Nations, Marilyn KCalvasina, Paola GondimMartin, Michele NDias, Hilma Fonteneleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess2024-03-06T15:27:43Zoai:ojs.teste-cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br:article/3607Revistahttps://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csphttps://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/oaicadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br||cadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br1678-44640102-311Xopendoar:2024-03-06T13:04:08.717488Cadernos de Saúde Pública - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)true
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil
title Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil
spellingShingle Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil
Nations, Marilyn K
Deciduous Tooth
Maternal Behavior
Cultural Anthropology
title_short Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil
title_full Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil
title_fullStr Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil
title_sort Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil
author Nations, Marilyn K
author_facet Nations, Marilyn K
Calvasina, Paola Gondim
Martin, Michele N
Dias, Hilma Fontenele
author_role author
author2 Calvasina, Paola Gondim
Martin, Michele N
Dias, Hilma Fontenele
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Nations, Marilyn K
Calvasina, Paola Gondim
Martin, Michele N
Dias, Hilma Fontenele
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv Deciduous Tooth
Maternal Behavior
Cultural Anthropology
topic Deciduous Tooth
Maternal Behavior
Cultural Anthropology
description This anthropological study critically evaluates Brazilian caregivers' symbolic production and significance of their malnourished offspring's primary teeth, as well as their own, and describes popular dental practices. From January to June 2004, ethnographic interviews of 27 poor, low-literacy mothers were conducted at a public Malnutrition Treatment Center in Fortaleza, Ceará State. Participant observation of clinical pathways and home environments supplemented the data. Content analysis was performed. Results confirm that primary teeth are imbued with cultural significance in Northeast Brazil. Mothers examine mouths, perceive signs of decay, associate primary with permanent tooth healthiness, identify ethnodental illnesses, seek assistance, and perform rituals with exfoliated teeth. The mother's motivation to care for primary teeth is sparked by her memories of past toothache and attempts to avoid stigma and discrimination. Social determinants, not mothers' beliefs or behaviors, are the most critical obstacles to effective dental care. Legitimizing lay knowledge and empowering caregivers and children can improve oral health in Northeast Brazil.
publishDate 2008
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2008-04-01
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dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/3607
url https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/3607
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/3607/7307
https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/3607/7308
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application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Reports in Public Health
Cadernos de Saúde Pública
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Reports in Public Health
Cadernos de Saúde Pública
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Reports in Public Health; Vol. 24 No. 4 (2008): April
Cadernos de Saúde Pública; v. 24 n. 4 (2008): Abril
1678-4464
0102-311X
reponame:Cadernos de Saúde Pública
instname:Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
instacron:FIOCRUZ
instname_str Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
instacron_str FIOCRUZ
institution FIOCRUZ
reponame_str Cadernos de Saúde Pública
collection Cadernos de Saúde Pública
repository.name.fl_str_mv Cadernos de Saúde Pública - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
repository.mail.fl_str_mv cadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br||cadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br
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