Whv. Helderman et al., EFFECT EVALUATION OF AN ORAL HEALTH-EDUCATION PROGRAM IN PRIMARY-SCHOOLS IN TANZANIA, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 25(4), 1997, pp. 296-300
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Dentistry,Oral Surgery & Medicine","Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
This study aimed to assess the clinical oral health outcome effects am
ong, schoolchildren participating in a school-based oral health educat
ion (OHE) programme, Local social, cultural and environmental conditio
ns were determinants of the school-based OHE programme, which Ras comp
iled on the basis of prevailing beliefs and on what teachers and educa
tional authorities considered to be important for the oral health of s
choolchildren, Consequently, the practical aspects of oral hygiene and
information on the cause and prevention of caries and gingivitis were
the components of oral health education, The teachers were prepared t
o carry out weekly supervised toothbrushing sessions and monthly lesso
ns on aspects of oral health for the school year in grade 4, Eight par
ticipating schools were selected for the clinical effect evaluation an
d four non-participating schools served as the control. In total. 309
children from the participating schools and 122 children from the non-
participating schools were available for the evaluation. Their ages va
ried between 9 and 14 years. The mean plaque scorer calculus score and
gingival bleeding score at baseline and at follow-up examinations 3,
8, 15 and 36 months later were not significantly different for partici
pating schools and controls, The mean DMFT value at baseline was 0.4 a
nd 3 years later 0.9 In both the participating and control schools, In
conclusion, the present study shows that the implemented school-based
OHE programme did not result in significant reductions of the clinica
l parameters measured.