Grant: Operating Grant: Population Health Intervention Research - Pathways

Too many Indigenous Canadian preschool children develop early childhood tooth decay. Canadian statistics on early childhood tooth decay are staggering and highlight the need for urgent evidence-based interventions with Indigenous communities. There is no magic bullet to prevent it, and the challenge is that there are few known effective interventions. In 2004, Health Canada launched its Children's Oral Health Initiative (COHI) in many First Nations and Inuit communities to promote early childhood oral health and prevent early childhood tooth decay. We have assembled a multidisciplinary team consisting of Indigenous and non-Indigenous members that will work together to evaluate COHI. To date, there has been no published evaluation on whether COHI improves children's dental health. Despite significant government investments, no real evidence of COHI's impact on children's oral health exists. Our evaluation will provide evidence whether COHI has positive impacts for young Indigenous children and their families. We will evaluate the impact of COHI program in communities in different regions of Canada (Manitoba, Atlantic Canada, and Ontario), representing six of 10 provinces. We propose a mixed-methods evaluation to determine the impact that COHI is having among young First Nations and Inuit children and families. Three projects will be undertaken. Project 1 looks at comparing rates for pediatric dental surgery to treat severe early childhood tooth decay in Manitoba between COHI and non-COHI communities. Project 2 will analyze data from the COHI database to determine whether children from COHI communities are receiving more preventive services and needing less dental treatment or referrals for dental surgery in hospital. Project 3 will involve interviews and focus groups with COHI staff, parents and caregivers of young children, and community members to find out their attitudes, beliefs, and values about COHI and the impact it has on young children's dental health.