2025 Theses Doctoral

Navigating Oral Health Care: A Qualitative Exploration of Parental Perspectives on Caring for Autistic Children with Medicaid Coverage

Kuy, Nancy

Children with special healthcare needs and disabilities, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), face disproportionately higher rates of oral health problems, yet the factors contributing to these inequities are not fully understood.

This qualitative study investigated the challenges and successful strategies employed by parents of autistic children with Medicaid in promoting their children's oral health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with 31 parents recruited from the NYU College of Dentistry, Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities and Pediatric Department through purposive and snowball sampling. Interpretative phenomenological analysis and thematic analysis revealed nine key themes: child-specific limitations, limited resources, tribulations of parents, disregard and non-acceptance, parental motivation, successful techniques, and the role of social media, AI, support groups, and educational/healthcare infrastructure.

The findings highlight the complex relationship of individual, social, and systemic factors impacting oral health promotion. These insights can inform the development of more effective and tailored interventions, educational programs, and policy changes to improve the oral health outcomes of children with special healthcare needs and disabilities. As the first study of its kind in New York City, this research details the voices of parents and lays the groundwork for future research to address these critical
disparities.