Brazilian Immigrant Parents' Perspectives on Oral Health in Early Childhood and Suggested Strategies for Education, Access, and Care: Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Background Oral health in early childhood is vital for long-term well-being, yet dental caries is highly prevalent among young children in the United States, especially in low-income and immigrant families. Brazilian immigrants, a rapidly growing Latin American population in the United States, face distinct barriers to oral health care, such as language differences, limited access to care, and a lack of culturally tailored resources. Despite this, Brazilian immigrants are understudied in public health research. Understanding Brazilian immigrant parents' perspectives is essential to advancing oral health equity through culturally responsive strategies. Objective This study aims to understand (1) parents' views on the best ways to support their children's oral health, (2) perceived barriers to oral health care, and (3) preferred methods and strategies for addressing barriers and receiving oral health education and care. Methods This qualitative study usedin-depth, semistructured interviews with Brazilian immigrant parents. Guided by the social ecological model, the data were thematically analyzed to identify multilevel influences on oral health behaviors as well as intervention preferences. Results Forty-eight Brazilian immigrant parents (29 mothers and 19 fathers) participated. Most had low acculturation levels and lived in primarily Portuguese-speaking households. Parents stressed the need for early, community-based oral health education in schools and daycares. They preferred visual and digital materials, such as videos, apps, and cartoons in Portuguese to overcome language barriers. Parents spoke of language and cultural challenges, limiting access and reducing confidence in navigating care. Access to affordable dental services was a major concern. Parents supported expanded school-based services and culturally welcoming care. Notably, mothers often focused on home routines and navigating systems, while fathers emphasized community outreach and structural barriers. Conclusions Brazilian immigrant parents called for linguistically and culturally tailored oral health programs to be offered in trusted community settings, along with improved dental care access through policy changes and expanded insurance coverage. Multilevel strategies addressing both behavioral and systemic barriers show promise in reducing disparities. Future efforts should prioritize the development and evaluation of scalable, culturally responsive models that meet the needs of Brazilian immigrant families.