IADR Abstract Archives
Improving Quality-of-Life using integrated health strategies
Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the introduction of a cost-effective graduated approach to integrated health promotion
Methods: A sample of children (n=261) was taken from among the schools that are supported by one Non-Governmental Organisation working in Kampot and Takeo. They were randomly selected from classroom clusters. At baseline, data were collected on Child Oral-Health-Related Quality-of-Life (COHRQoL), dmfs/DMFS, and pulpal involvement (PUFA). The children will be followed-up after 18-months. Once baseline data were collected, children began to participate in a program of daily hand-washing with soap, and tooth-brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Two times per year the childen will undergo a health screening, Silver Diamine Fluoride application (to arrest caries), de-worming treatment, and Vitamin A supplementation. Additional levels of treatment can be provided in this approach, depending on the resources available.
Results: The distribution of children at baseline by age, gender and province was approximately equal. The children in this sample had severe caries experience (6-year dmft/DMFT = 10.9/0.7) which is consistent with the 2011 Cambodia National Oral Health Survey. There was no significant difference in caries experience by location (6-year dmft/DMFT for Kampot = 11.4/1.0; Takeo = 10.3/0.4). One in two children reported an impact in COHRQoL which is consistent with similar samples taken from Cambodia.
Conclusions: The children in this pilot have a severe burden of dental caries and this impacts their COHRQoL. Conventional provision of dental care for most Cambodian children would be too expensive and inappropriate. The present approach can be adapted depending on the setting and the funding that is available for a given community. The accumulation of knowledge gained from the SEAL Cambodia has “opened the door” for the introduction of the new model.
Methods: A sample of children (n=261) was taken from among the schools that are supported by one Non-Governmental Organisation working in Kampot and Takeo. They were randomly selected from classroom clusters. At baseline, data were collected on Child Oral-Health-Related Quality-of-Life (COHRQoL), dmfs/DMFS, and pulpal involvement (PUFA). The children will be followed-up after 18-months. Once baseline data were collected, children began to participate in a program of daily hand-washing with soap, and tooth-brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Two times per year the childen will undergo a health screening, Silver Diamine Fluoride application (to arrest caries), de-worming treatment, and Vitamin A supplementation. Additional levels of treatment can be provided in this approach, depending on the resources available.
Results: The distribution of children at baseline by age, gender and province was approximately equal. The children in this sample had severe caries experience (6-year dmft/DMFT = 10.9/0.7) which is consistent with the 2011 Cambodia National Oral Health Survey. There was no significant difference in caries experience by location (6-year dmft/DMFT for Kampot = 11.4/1.0; Takeo = 10.3/0.4). One in two children reported an impact in COHRQoL which is consistent with similar samples taken from Cambodia.
Conclusions: The children in this pilot have a severe burden of dental caries and this impacts their COHRQoL. Conventional provision of dental care for most Cambodian children would be too expensive and inappropriate. The present approach can be adapted depending on the setting and the funding that is available for a given community. The accumulation of knowledge gained from the SEAL Cambodia has “opened the door” for the introduction of the new model.