IADR Abstract Archives
Addressing Oral Health of Vulnerable Population-a Strategic Approach
Objectives: Children with disabilities are a vulnerable population as disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting the interaction between features of their body and society in which they live. Overcoming the difficulties faced by children with disabilities requires interventions to remove environmental and social barriers. These disabilities have an impact on quality of life of the children and the family. Schools appear to be the most promising setting to initiate oral health promotion activities.
Hence, an attempt was made to formulate a framework for oral health promotion to address the oral health challenges faced by this special group based on the WHO Health Promoting Schools (HPS)-framework for a differently-abled children’s school at Kaiwara, India.
Methods: A strategic approach based on the WHO HPS-framework focussing on change in school curriculum, involving all stakeholders was planned in Spandana Special School in Kaiwara. Inputs were given in different forms of oral health-education which were delivered through one-to-one demonstrations to all the children aged 6-18 years (n=32) along with teachers and parents. The activities were communication on oral health-education on a daily basis, during morning assembly and after lunch time as lobbying efforts for policy initiatives. Primary outcomes were measured as policy development for restructuring curriculum. Secondary outcomes were measured in terms of clinical oral health-parameters such as plaque index, gingival index which were reported at baseline and after 3 weeks to assess the effectiveness of oral health education. Stringent protocols were followed to ensure internal validity for secondary outcomes. Data was analysed using SPSSv.20. and paired t-test was performed.
Results: Primary outcomes in the form of biweekly delivery of oral health education by school teachers was introduced for children and parents. Secondary outcomes are shown in tabular form below.
Conclusions: This school oral health promoting framework showed promising results to bring about comprehensive change in the school environment.
Hence, an attempt was made to formulate a framework for oral health promotion to address the oral health challenges faced by this special group based on the WHO Health Promoting Schools (HPS)-framework for a differently-abled children’s school at Kaiwara, India.
Methods: A strategic approach based on the WHO HPS-framework focussing on change in school curriculum, involving all stakeholders was planned in Spandana Special School in Kaiwara. Inputs were given in different forms of oral health-education which were delivered through one-to-one demonstrations to all the children aged 6-18 years (n=32) along with teachers and parents. The activities were communication on oral health-education on a daily basis, during morning assembly and after lunch time as lobbying efforts for policy initiatives. Primary outcomes were measured as policy development for restructuring curriculum. Secondary outcomes were measured in terms of clinical oral health-parameters such as plaque index, gingival index which were reported at baseline and after 3 weeks to assess the effectiveness of oral health education. Stringent protocols were followed to ensure internal validity for secondary outcomes. Data was analysed using SPSSv.20. and paired t-test was performed.
Results: Primary outcomes in the form of biweekly delivery of oral health education by school teachers was introduced for children and parents. Secondary outcomes are shown in tabular form below.
Conclusions: This school oral health promoting framework showed promising results to bring about comprehensive change in the school environment.