IADR Abstract Archives
A Structural Social Work Perspective on Oral Health in Nepal
Objectives: To use structural social work theory to examine the implementation of Basic Package of Oral Cares (BPOC) by one organisation in Nepal.
Methods: The present investigation uses one of the components from the theoretical framework of structural social work to examine the model of one Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Nepal to address the issue of oral disease. A critical review was conducted by two social workers (LWR and LS) to examine how the NGO (Jevaia foundation) identifies engages social structures as the basis for individual disease experience. Oral disease in Nepal was examined as a product of institutional and social inequalities and conceptualized as a form of structural violence.
Results: The structural gaps that were present were the lack of an appropriate provider, inequitable allocation of resources within the health system, and inadequate innovation around the needs of marginalised rural populations to access dental care and health information. Jevaia foundation addressed these issues by filling gaps in the rural health care workforce, and creating a scalable model for delivery of the BPOC in limited-resource settings. Ongoing strategies are being developed to work alongside rural communities and to press for political and policy changes that are needed to sustain these structural adjustments long-term and nationwide.
Conclusions: The Jevaia Foundation model address numerous institutional and social determinants of oral disease in Nepal, and has largely established communities as the locus of control over addressing these inequalities. Next steps should improve the ability of rural Nepali communities to advocate for long-term changes in policy and health care.
Methods: The present investigation uses one of the components from the theoretical framework of structural social work to examine the model of one Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Nepal to address the issue of oral disease. A critical review was conducted by two social workers (LWR and LS) to examine how the NGO (Jevaia foundation) identifies engages social structures as the basis for individual disease experience. Oral disease in Nepal was examined as a product of institutional and social inequalities and conceptualized as a form of structural violence.
Results: The structural gaps that were present were the lack of an appropriate provider, inequitable allocation of resources within the health system, and inadequate innovation around the needs of marginalised rural populations to access dental care and health information. Jevaia foundation addressed these issues by filling gaps in the rural health care workforce, and creating a scalable model for delivery of the BPOC in limited-resource settings. Ongoing strategies are being developed to work alongside rural communities and to press for political and policy changes that are needed to sustain these structural adjustments long-term and nationwide.
Conclusions: The Jevaia Foundation model address numerous institutional and social determinants of oral disease in Nepal, and has largely established communities as the locus of control over addressing these inequalities. Next steps should improve the ability of rural Nepali communities to advocate for long-term changes in policy and health care.