State Oral Health Director Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota, United States
Abstract: Minnesota Health Care Program provides expanded dental services for pregnant people. Yet, there is still a two-fold difference between women receiving dental cleaning in low-income households (70%) and higher-income households (34%). Around 60% pregnant women from low-income families did not receive oral health information from their provider. Over 50% of Minnesota counties are designated as dental professional shortage areas. Given the association between poor oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes, dental public health infrastructure is insufficient to meet pregnant people's unique oral health needs. Brushing for two is a health equity project that convened a statewide community of practice and trained the leaders of 22 non-dental organizations to promote healthy pregnancy outcomes and assist pregnant and parenting women in developing and maintaining oral hygiene and self-sufficiency through the Minnesota Department of Health Positive Alternatives Program. A couple of these organizations received additional training for their frontline workers to promote maternal-child oral health. A Community Health Worker (CHW) led the training-of-trainers to educate pregnant people, teach them oral hygiene skills, inform them about dental coverage and connect them to a dental clinic. The newly trained CHWs reached various pregnant people via programs that provide culturally reflective group prenatal care and resource networking specifically to African American moms. Data was collected using need assessment, focus groups and surveys to assess the impact of the project.
Source of Funding: Minnesota Depart of Health, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division, Healthy Equity Grant
