Dataset Information

Identifying and critically examining government legislation relevant to children's dental caries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada: a health inequities lens.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Children's dental caries is an important and urgent public health concern that is largely preventable. Using a social equity framework, our objectives were to identify and critically examine government legislation relevant to the issue of children's dental health in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Methods

We conducted a systematic, gray literature search of federal, provincial (Alberta), and municipal (Calgary) statutes and bylaws related to children's dental caries, through the relevant law databases. Eligibility criteria were applied for document screening and selection. Data extraction and synthesis pertained to objectives of the legislation (policy task), relevant agent or actor (level of government), and upstream or downstream focus, in terms of potential impact on social inequities in health.

Results

Legislation (n = 114) was retrieved and grouped into eight policy tasks. Most legislation fit under the policy tasks: protection of public safety and health promotion (n = 40) and benefits and compensation (n = 27). Federal and provincial governments have greater involvement in children's dental caries than municipal (Calgary) government. The majority of legislation was classified as upstream in orientation (e.g., improving living and working conditions; macro-level policies).

Conclusions

Analysis of legislation relevant to children's dental caries reveals policies that are more often upstream in nature, and unsurprisingly are multijurisdictional. Despite this, there remains a high prevalence and inequitable distribution of children's dental caries in Canada. This suggests that the nature of upstream involvement and fragmented government involvement is ineffective in tackling this pervasive and urgent public health issue. Implications for children's dental health are discussed.

SUBMITTER: Weijs C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6850351 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Identifying and critically examining government legislation relevant to children's dental caries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada: a health inequities lens.

Weijs Cynthia C Gobrail Sara S Lucas Jack J Zwicker Jennifer J McLaren Lindsay L

Journal of public health dentistry 20190121 2

<h4>Objectives</h4>Children's dental caries is an important and urgent public health concern that is largely preventable. Using a social equity framework, our objectives were to identify and critically examine government legislation relevant to the issue of children's dental health in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a systematic, gray literature search of federal, provincial (Alberta), and municipal (Calgary) statutes and bylaws related to children's dental caries, through ...[more]

PMID: 30663768

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Project description:ImportanceTo help prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, government-instituted nonpharmaceutical interventions (eg, social distancing, mask use, isolating), a provincewide government-instituted mask mandate occurred on December 8, 2020, in Alberta, Canada, although some local jurisdictions implemented an earlier mask mandate. There remains a limited understanding of the association between government-implemented public health measures and individual health behaviors of children.ObjectiveTo examine the association between government mask mandates and mask use among children in Alberta, Canada.Design, setting, and participantsA cohort of children from Alberta, Canada, was recruited to examine longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 serologic factors. Parents were prospectively asked about their child's mask use in public places every 3 months (5-point Likert scale: never to always) from August 14, 2020, to June 24, 2022. A multivariable logistic generalized estimating equation was used to examine government mandatory masking mandates and child mask use. Child mask use was operationalized into a single composite dichotomous outcome by grouping parents who reported their child often or always wore a mask vs those who reported their child never, rarely, or occasionally wore a mask.ExposuresThe primary exposure variable was the government masking mandate (began on different dates in 2020). The secondary exposure variable was government private indoor and outdoor gathering restrictions.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was parent report of child mask use.ResultsA total of 939 children participated (467 female [49.7%]; mean [SD] age, 10.61 [1.6] years). The odds of parents' report of child mask use (often or always) was 18.3 times higher (95% CI, 5.7-58.6; P < .001; risk ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-1.8; P < .001) with the mask mandate on compared with the mask mandate off. There was no significant change in mask use over the course of the mask mandate due to time. In contrast, each day with the mask mandate off was associated with a 1.6% decrease in mask use (odds ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99; P < .001).Conclusions and relevanceThe results of this study suggest that government-mandated mask use and providing the public with up-to-date health information (eg, case counts) is associated with increased parent-reported child mask use, while increasing time without a mask mandate is associated with decreased mask use.

Dataset Information

Identifying and critically examining government legislation relevant to children's dental caries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada: a health inequities lens.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Identifying and critically examining government legislation relevant to children's dental caries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada: a health inequities lens.

Similar Datasets

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