Jennita Davis1, Meirong Liu2, Dennis Kao3, Xinbin Gu4, Gail Cherry-Peppers5. 1. Student in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. 2. Associate professor at the Howard University School of Social Work in Washington, DC. 3. Associate professor at the Carleton University School of Social Work in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 4. Professor and associate dean of research at the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, DC. 5. Associate professor and director of community dentistry at the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, DC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Access to dental care in mixed-race and predominantly African American wards in the District of Columbia (DC) was investigated in relation to community development. METHODS: This study used high-resolution geographic information system (GIS) tools to map all general dentistry and periodontal practice locations in DC wards. The spatial analysis contextualized each ward's land use and demographic data obtained from DC government reports. FINDINGS: The analysis revealed inter-ward inequity in dental care access, which was measured by proximity to and number of dental clinics in each DC ward. Residents in affluent wards had access to many dental practices and superior amenities. Residents in wards poorly served by public transportation and with few resources had few, if any, dental clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Dental practices are inequitably distributed across DC wards. DC policy should prioritize community development-specifically, resource allocation and community outreach-to promote health equity and improve access to and quality of dental care among residents of color. Copyright 2022 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
BACKGROUND: Access to dental care in mixed-race and predominantly African American wards in the District of Columbia (DC) was investigated in relation to community development. METHODS: This study used high-resolution geographic information system (GIS) tools to map all general dentistry and periodontal practice locations in DC wards. The spatial analysis contextualized each ward's land use and demographic data obtained from DC government reports. FINDINGS: The analysis revealed inter-ward inequity in dental care access, which was measured by proximity to and number of dental clinics in each DC ward. Residents in affluent wards had access to many dental practices and superior amenities. Residents in wards poorly served by public transportation and with few resources had few, if any, dental clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Dental practices are inequitably distributed across DC wards. DC policy should prioritize community development-specifically, resource allocation and community outreach-to promote health equity and improve access to and quality of dental care among residents of color. Copyright 2022 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Authors: Donald L Patrick; Rosanna Shuk Yin Lee; Michele Nucci; David Grembowski; Carol Zane Jolles; Peter Milgrom Journal: BMC Oral Health Date: 2006-06-15 Impact factor: 2.757
Authors: Meirong Liu; Dennis Kao; Xinbin Gu; Whittni Holland; Gail Cherry-Peppers Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-20 Impact factor: 4.614