Improving dental health for pregnant women and their children
Official title: Overcoming early childhood caries disease burden through the words of mothers (WOM project)
Funded at East Carolina University · NIH-10922818 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping low-income pregnant women get the dental care they need by listening to their stories and experiences, so we can find better ways to support them and their children in taking care of their teeth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | East Carolina University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greenville, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $151,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03DE032754-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10922818 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income pregnant women and mothers of infants who may face barriers to accessing dental care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have children may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding and overcoming the barriers that low-income pregnant women face in accessing dental care. By using a community-based participatory approach called photovoice, the project aims to gather insights from mothers and healthcare providers about their experiences and challenges related to oral health. The goal is to create a supportive and culturally sensitive environment that encourages regular dental visits, ultimately benefiting both mothers and their children. The findings will help identify sustainable interventions to improve oral health behaviors and access to care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved oral health for pregnant women and their children, reducing the risk of dental issues and associated health complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that community-based approaches can effectively improve health outcomes by addressing barriers to care, making this approach promising.
Where this research is happening
-
East Carolina University
Greenville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pardi, Vanessa — East Carolina University
- Study coordinator: Pardi, Vanessa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.