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Healthy You is a student-run health magazine of the Department of Public Health. It is a jointly funded publication of the Syracuse University David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and the Divisions of Undergraduate Studies, and Enrollment and the Student Experience. This publication enhances, broadens and supports the academic and social experiences of students. The Student Editorial Board is responsible for providing work structure for the magazine’s production, which includes the content, design, production and distribution. The information contained in this publication is not to be construed as medical advice. Readers should consult a medical professional before engaging in any activity described. The contents of this magazine may not be reprinted without the expressed consent of the editorial director.
Contents:
In The Know
By Luvenia W. Cowart and Shelby Fenton
Racism Link To Dental Anxiety And Fear Among Black Women
According to a recent article published in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, oral health may be inadequate or delayed due to fear and anxiety associated with racial experiences among Black women. The study found that this anxiety, which reaches beyond fear of needles and drilling, is linked to experiences of racial discrimination in daily living and housing, work or from law enforcement that before “contributed to elevated dental fear and anxiety among nearly 1 in 5 Black women, more than double the prevalence of dental fear among white women.” According to lead author Brenda Heaton, associate professor of epidemiology at Boston University, “Black women with higher levels of dental fear and anxiety said these fears were fueled by a perceived lack of control during dental exams or procedures, painful or uncomfortable procedures, and unsympathetic or unkind dentists.” Researchers posit that these stressful experiences only elevate perceived discrimination during a health care visit. The study findings also suggest poorer health outcomes and avoidance of dental services for a population already disproportionately affected by many health disparities in oral health and quality and affordable health care services.
Source: Boston University School of Public Health