วัฒนธรรมความเชื่อและการปฏิบัติในการดูแลสุขภาพปากและฟันของเด็กปฐมวัยในครอบครัวชาวพม่า : การศึกษาเชิงคุณภาพในชุมชนแห่งหนึ่งของจังหวัดกาญจนบุรี

Abstract

This study aims to understand cultural beliefs and practices regarding oral health care of primary school children from Burmese families in the HuayKayeng Sub-district of Kanchanaburi's Thong PhaPoom District. With its descriptive nature, this study used qualitative data collection techniques, that included non-participant observation, informal and in-depth interviews and oral health inspection. The data collection began in decemberand lasted four months. Results of the study show that oral health caring behaviours of the children has been long learned and transmitted, which then became everyday life practices. The facts that the Burmese families believed that tooth caries in toddlers is natural not a disease, that their life was overwhelmed with fighting to feed their mouths, causing women to work outside and had less time to take care of their children, and that the easier access to teeth-unhealthy-products, all of which, result in a higher risk fo tooth decay among children and devalued the inherited traditional oral health care practices. To be successful and sustainable in oral health promotion and prevention among these children, thus, a new development process is needed to be learned by both health professionals and the families-with one that focusses on Burmese traditional cultural beliefs and way of life.