Cultural Adaptation of Oral Health Educational Materials in Two AI Communities

Early childhood caries is one of the most common chronic diseases in children under age 6 and is especially prevalent in Indigenous communities. To help prevent early childhood caries, the team conducted a feasibility study with two tribal communities to adapt an oral health education program using social determinants of health as a guiding framework. This article describes the process used to develop and culturally tailor educational materials for the intervention. The team adapted materials from past oral health projects and analyzed data from early interviews and feedback from community advisory members. These materials were then refined based on a pilot study to ensure they reflected community knowledge, priorities, and culture. Key findings include the importance of establishing trust with the community, drawing on the knowledge of community leaders, and using interviews with community members to gain a fuller understanding of their day-to-day lives. These insights were used to shape the oral health materials in ways that were meaningful, culturally grounded, and locally appropriate. Although there are standard dental care guidelines to prevent tooth decay in children, putting those guidelines into practice varies widely across communities. Our work shows that local social and cultural factors must be considered when designing education programs. By partnering closely with the communities involved, we were able to develop materials that responded to their lived experiences and specific barriers to oral health. This process highlights how culturally tailored education may help reduce oral health disparities in Indigenous populations.