Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health
Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health
Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health
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were able to assist with strategies to reduce the incidence and severity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC. Three<br />
guiding pillars have been 1) community identificati<strong>on</strong> and relati<strong>on</strong>ship building, 2) oral<br />
health promoti<strong>on</strong> and educati<strong>on</strong>, and 3) research and evaluati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
HSHC capacity-building and educati<strong>on</strong>al activities are undertaken with existing<br />
programs and services reaching infant, preschool and prenatal populati<strong>on</strong>s, including preand<br />
postnatal programs, Aboriginal HeadStart, parenting programs, and daycares.<br />
Capacity-building methods include informati<strong>on</strong>al meetings, presentati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the causes<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>sequences <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC, and hands-<strong>on</strong> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> how to use resources<br />
developed by communities. The goal is to encourage community-developed promoti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
activities that can be sustained and integrated into existing services. In 2005, the Minister<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Health</strong> for the Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Manitoba announced funding in the amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> $1.2 milli<strong>on</strong><br />
to expand this program across Manitoba for a period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two fiscal years. 97,98 This project<br />
also received an additi<strong>on</strong>al third year <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> funding ending in March 2009 and the<br />
partnership is now developing a sustainability and legacy plan.<br />
Successful translati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this research study will depend up<strong>on</strong> how<br />
well informati<strong>on</strong> is shared with various stakeholder groups, including the HSHC<br />
partnership, and how well they are engaged. Informing community members and interest<br />
groups (e.g. Aboriginal groups and high-risk populati<strong>on</strong>s) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these findings may result in<br />
improving the public’s awareness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> preventing ECC, may help to improve prenatal<br />
nutriti<strong>on</strong>, and may help to raise the pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ile <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> early childhood oral health. Media coverage<br />
may also raise the pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ile <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC.<br />
An <strong>on</strong>going dialogue with those in decisi<strong>on</strong>-making circles is also required.<br />
Follow-up investigati<strong>on</strong>s are warranted and it may be beneficial to partner with decisi<strong>on</strong>-<br />
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