Pacific oral health: a scoping review
IntroductionA growing body of literature reports on the oral health of Pacific peoples but a synthesis of the existing knowledge on Pacific oral health epidemiology is absent. This scoping review aims to summarise the evidence on Pacific oral health epidemiology. The findings of this review may help...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oral Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1474623/full |
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| author | Naailah Zahraa Hanif Zac Morse Jonathan Broadbent Anumala Ram |
| author_facet | Naailah Zahraa Hanif Zac Morse Jonathan Broadbent Anumala Ram |
| author_sort | Naailah Zahraa Hanif |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionA growing body of literature reports on the oral health of Pacific peoples but a synthesis of the existing knowledge on Pacific oral health epidemiology is absent. This scoping review aims to summarise the evidence on Pacific oral health epidemiology. The findings of this review may help identify knowledge gaps and issues requiring health policy prioritisation.MethodsThe review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews and included reports published prior to July 2023 on Pacific oral health, regardless of design. Searches were conducted across four databases, and the grey literature.ResultsAn analysis of 95 sources, primarily from 2000 to 2023 and predominantly New Zealand-based, found that a high proportion of Pacific peoples (including children) were affected by poor oral health and challenges in accessing dental care services. Numerous studies have reported oral health disparities, with poorer oral health among Pacific peoples than other population groups. Epidemiological and health services data from Pacific Island nations show a high prevalence of dental conditions, along with limited healthcare resources and workforce shortages. Studies on the broader social determinants shaping these issues and health promotion strategies to address them were limited.ConclusionThis review revealed significant unmet oral health needs, ethnic disparities in oral health, and barriers preventing care in Pacific populations. The findings emphasise the need for more research to address these gaps to help develop effective, culturally-informed oral health strategies for Pacific communities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec660c3a457b4f6a92ce12d5a2a74921 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4842 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oral Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec660c3a457b4f6a92ce12d5a2a749212025-08-20T03:40:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oral Health2673-48422025-03-01610.3389/froh.2025.14746231474623Pacific oral health: a scoping reviewNaailah Zahraa Hanif0Zac Morse1Jonathan Broadbent2Anumala Ram3Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandAmerican University of Iraq—Baghdad, Baghdad, IraqFaculty of Dentistry, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandCollege of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, FijiIntroductionA growing body of literature reports on the oral health of Pacific peoples but a synthesis of the existing knowledge on Pacific oral health epidemiology is absent. This scoping review aims to summarise the evidence on Pacific oral health epidemiology. The findings of this review may help identify knowledge gaps and issues requiring health policy prioritisation.MethodsThe review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews and included reports published prior to July 2023 on Pacific oral health, regardless of design. Searches were conducted across four databases, and the grey literature.ResultsAn analysis of 95 sources, primarily from 2000 to 2023 and predominantly New Zealand-based, found that a high proportion of Pacific peoples (including children) were affected by poor oral health and challenges in accessing dental care services. Numerous studies have reported oral health disparities, with poorer oral health among Pacific peoples than other population groups. Epidemiological and health services data from Pacific Island nations show a high prevalence of dental conditions, along with limited healthcare resources and workforce shortages. Studies on the broader social determinants shaping these issues and health promotion strategies to address them were limited.ConclusionThis review revealed significant unmet oral health needs, ethnic disparities in oral health, and barriers preventing care in Pacific populations. The findings emphasise the need for more research to address these gaps to help develop effective, culturally-informed oral health strategies for Pacific communities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1474623/fulldental cariesepidemiologyhealth disparitiesoral health conditionsPasifikaperiodontal disease |
| spellingShingle | Naailah Zahraa Hanif Zac Morse Jonathan Broadbent Anumala Ram Pacific oral health: a scoping review Frontiers in Oral Health dental caries epidemiology health disparities oral health conditions Pasifika periodontal disease |
| title | Pacific oral health: a scoping review |
| title_full | Pacific oral health: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Pacific oral health: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pacific oral health: a scoping review |
| title_short | Pacific oral health: a scoping review |
| title_sort | pacific oral health a scoping review |
| topic | dental caries epidemiology health disparities oral health conditions Pasifika periodontal disease |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1474623/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT naailahzahraahanif pacificoralhealthascopingreview AT zacmorse pacificoralhealthascopingreview AT jonathanbroadbent pacificoralhealthascopingreview AT anumalaram pacificoralhealthascopingreview |