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Oral Health Service Access in Racial/Ethnic Minority Neighborhoods: A Geospatial Analysis in Washington, DC, USA

Author

Listed:
  • Meirong Liu

    (School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA)

  • Dennis Kao

    (School of Social Work, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada)

  • Xinbin Gu

    (College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA)

  • Whittni Holland

    (School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA)

  • Gail Cherry-Peppers

    (College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA)

Abstract

Previous studies on individual-level variables have improved our knowledge base of oral health service use. However, environmental or contextual variables are also important in understanding oral health disparities in racial and ethnic neighborhoods. Based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, this study examines the geographic availability of oral health providers in Washing-ton DC, U.S.A. Census tract-level data were drawn from the American Community Survey, joined with tract-level shapefiles, and overlaid with the geographic location of dental services throughout the city. Visual maps, descriptive statistics, and spatial lag regression models showed that census tracts with higher concentrations of African Americans were significantly farther from their nearest oral health providers (r = 0.19, p < 0.001), after controlling for neighborhood poverty rate, median age, and gender. Such findings confirm that in urban areas with highly di-verse populations such as Washington DC, racial disparities in oral health care access are signifi-cant. The study highlights that identifying neighborhoods with limited oral health care providers should be a priority in diminishing racial disparities in oral health service access. Improving access to racial/ethnic minority communities, especially African American neighborhoods, will require changes in health policies and programs, workforce development, resource allocation, community outreach, and educational programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Meirong Liu & Dennis Kao & Xinbin Gu & Whittni Holland & Gail Cherry-Peppers, 2022. "Oral Health Service Access in Racial/Ethnic Minority Neighborhoods: A Geospatial Analysis in Washington, DC, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:4988-:d:797634
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hoffman, L.M. & Rollins, L. & Akintobi, T.H. & Erwin, K. & Hernandez, N. & Lewis, K. & Miller, A., 2017. "Oral health intervention for low-income African American Men in Atlanta, Georgia," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107, pages 104-110.
    2. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2017.303760_6 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Jones, E. & Shi, L. & Hayashi, A.S. & Sharma, R. & Daly, C. & Ngo-Metzger, Q., 2013. "Access to oral health care: The role of Federally Qualified Health Centers in addressing disparities and expanding access," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(3), pages 488-493.
    4. Chi, D.L. & Carpiano, R.M., 2013. "Neighborhood social capital, neighborhood attachment, and dental care use for Los Angeles family and neighborhood survey adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(4), pages 88-95.
    5. Dominique H. Como & Leah I. Stein Duker & José C. Polido & Sharon A. Cermak, 2019. "The Persistence of Oral Health Disparities for African American Children: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, February.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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