scholarly journals Oral health care: the knowledge and work of the community health agent

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-130
Author(s):  
Elizandra de Queiroz Venancio ◽  
Elza Maria de Queiroz Venancio de Paula ◽  
Cássia Barbosa Reis

Introduction: With the reorganization of oral health policy in 2004, the community health agent is regarded as a facilitator of oral health practices in her area. Objective: To identify knowledge and practice of community health agents in oral health care. Material and method: This is a qualitative study, based on the theory of social representations, and the data were collected through semi-structured interviews, using the collective subject discourse as the technique of tabulation and analysis of data. The sample consisted of 11 interviews, delimited by saturation. Data collection was conducted during the period April-June 2010, in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul. Result: The results indicate that respondents understand what oral health is, realize the impact of oral health on overall health, guide the community regarding oral health carein their work practices, operate and provide care in the basic health unit, but have not been trained to act as instructors. Conclusion: The community health workers have knowledge of common sense oral health, acquired through their own life experiences and observation of the world, but show some uncertainty due to lack of training.This points to the need for investment in ongoing education for these professionals so that they can continuously assist the population in the process of empowerment of knowledge about health.

Author(s):  
Vandré Taumaturgo Mesquita ◽  
Patricia Alexandra Martinez ◽  
Evamiris Landim Vasques ◽  
Viviane Gonçalves Figueiredo

The oral health of a population was assessed by questionnaires applied in order to gain knowledge about the real situation of SUS when it comes to dental services. We conducted 400 interviews in Reriutaba-CE on the oral health of these individuals. The research used the community health workers as the group responsible for delivering the forms. The questionaries were distributed throughout the county in regard to the sample. It has been found that in spite of this population sample’s poor access to dental services, they have a fairly accurate perception regarding self oral health, indicating that new health policies may experience positive outcomes regarding oral health care.


Author(s):  
Mirian Benites Falkenberg ◽  
Helena Eri Shimizu ◽  
Ximena Pamela Díaz Bermudez

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the social representations of health care of the Mbyá-Guarani ethnic group by multidisciplinary teams from the Special Indigenous Health District in the south coast of Rio Grande do Sul state (Distrito Sanitário Especial Indígena Litoral Sul do Rio Grande do Sul), Brazil. Method: a qualitative method based on the theory of social representations was used. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 20 health workers and by participant observation. The interviews were analyzed with ALCESTE software, which conducts a lexical content analysis using quantitative techniques for the treatment of textual data. Results: there were disagreements in the health care concepts and practices between traditional medicine and biomedicine; however, some progress has been achieved in the area of intermedicality. The ethnic boundaries established between health workers and indigenous peoples based on their representations of culture and family, together with the lack of infrastructure and organization of health actions, are perceived as factors that hinder health care in an intercultural context. Conclusion: a new basis for the process of indigenous health care needs to be established by understanding the needs identified and by agreement among individuals, groups, and health professionals via intercultural exchange.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.D. Meyer ◽  
R. Wang ◽  
M.J. Steiner ◽  
J.S. Preisser

Background: Despite early evidence touting the effectiveness of physician-provided oral health services (POHS), recent evidence suggests these services might have little impact on caries-related outcomes in children. General anesthesia (GA) is often used to treat early childhood caries and may be considered the most extreme utilization outcome. We sought to assess the impact of POHS utilization on dental GA utilization and expenditures. Methods: We used the Medicaid claims of a birth cohort of children born in 2008 in North Carolina ( N = 32,558) to determine the impact of POHS on dental utilization and expenditures under GA for individual children. Children were followed until their eighth birthday. We analyzed the association of the number of prior POHS visits with visit-specific outcomes of dental treatment under GA using population-averaged models fit with generalized estimating equations with exchangeable working correlation structure. Results: Children with 2 or more previous POHS visits had reduced odds of GA (odds ratio [OR] = 0.93; confidence interval [CI], 0.87–0.99; P = 0.029) and expenditures ($114; CI,−$152.61 to −$75.19; P < 0.001) compared to those without physician-provided oral health visits, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic residence. Dental expenditures did not differ between POHS and non-POHS subjects at non-GA visits. Conclusions: POHS decreased the odds of having dental GA treatment and dental expenditures at GA visits. The role of physicians in oral health care can reduce the impact on the most severe outcome—treatment under general anesthesia. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results of this study have important financial implications for state Medicaid programs and disease management programs trying to mitigate the costs of treating early childhood caries under general anesthesia. Children who receive physician oral health care are less likely to use and more likely to save money on general anesthesia to complete dental treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Ni Nengah Arini Murni ◽  
Suwanti Suwanti

Abstract : The study aimed to determine the correlation among knowledge and attitude with the behavior of pregnant women in dental and oral health care during pregnancy. The research was analytic observational and in terms of time used crossectional approach. The population in this study were pregnant women at Narmada Community Health Center whereas the sample obtained by 34 people who came to check Antenatal Care (ANC) in June 2015 taken by accidental sampling technique. Data collection of knowledge, attitude and behavior variables used questionnaire and Statistical analysis was performed by using Chi Square test. The research finding indicated that from 34 respondents, 17 pregnant women (50%) had lack knowledge level about oral and dental health care during pregnancy. The attitude of pregnant women in dental and oral care during pregnancy was 73.5% (poor attitudes), and in terms of respondents’ behaviour was the same like respondents’ attitude by 73.5% (poor attitude). Therefore, it can be concluded that there was a significant correlation between knowledge with pregnant women behavior in dental and oral health care (P value = 0.013) and there was significant correlation between attitude with respondents behaviour in oral and dental care during pregnancy (P value = 0.004). Suggestion: It is expected for Health Care Institutions and health workers need to do an effort of sustainable counselling to communities, especially pregnant women about risk factors that can cause dental caries which can affect the health of both fetus and mother, increasing promotive efforts, for instance the improvement and maintenance of health and preventive efforts for communnities and pregnant women in order to have a good knowledge and attitude in maintaining oral an dental health care during pregnancy can be preserved and further enhanced, hence the sense of responsibility in terms of a behavior in the community or pregnant women concerning dental and oral health increases in line with knowledge improvement and developing attitudes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
Jung Won Yun ◽  
Yu Hee Lee ◽  
Kyeung Ae Jang ◽  
Jung Hwa Lee

Author(s):  
Dominique Como ◽  
Leah Stein Duker ◽  
José Polido ◽  
Sharon Cermak

Oral health is an important yet often neglected component of overall health, linked to heart disease, stroke, and diabetic complications. Disparities exist for many groups, including racial and ethnic minorities such as African Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential factors that perpetuate oral health care disparities in African American children in the United States. A systematic search of three literature databases produced 795 articles; 23 articles were included in the final review. Articles were analyzed using a template coding approach based on the social ecological model. The review identified structural, sociocultural, and familial factors that impact the ability of African Americans to utilize oral care services, highlighting the importance of the parent/caregiver role and the patient–provider relationship; policy-level processes that impact access to quality care; the value of autonomy in treatment and prevention options; and the impact of sociocultural factors on food choices (e.g., food deserts, gestures of affection). In conclusion, oral health care remains an underutilized service by African American children, despite increasing access to oral care secondary to improvements in insurance coverage and community-based programs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saroj Prasad Deo ◽  
Dharanidhar Baral

Abstract Background COVID-19 (COrona VIrus Disease-19) outbreak is an alarming situation for all health care workers. Dental and oral health care workers (DOCHWs) are invariably at a higher risk of getting infected or transmitting disease due to the nature and duration of work. The objective is to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nepalese dental and oral health care workers and their practices. Methods A cross-sectional observational, online survey was designed and conducted via Google form from 24 June 2020 to 13 July 2020 among DOHCWs of Nepal. The study tool developed after reviewing pertinent literature and international guidelines. Results A total of 51.9% were aged 20 to 29 years, 61.7% were male, 52.6% were single; 92.5% had no morbidity. Of the respondents, majority 60.2% of DOCHWs were working in routine duties on the COVID-19 crisis. They reduced their current practice to before the pandemic; 48.2 % of them working less than 20 hours per week, while only 10.5 % of them working more than 40 hours per week. Moreover, 73.7% performed only selective or lesser procedure; 18% closed dental practices / stayed home; only 1.5% worked more; 6.8% shifted practice to online (teledentistry). The majority of the respondents restricted their activity to an emergency (21%) and urgent procedures (22.7%). A considerable proportion of participants reported symptoms of depression (21.9%), anxiety (24.2%), and distress (8.4%). Bivariate analysis showed a statistically significant level of satisfaction with logistic support provided by the administrative agency in the different workplace (oral health service centre) with relation to the availability of masks other than N95, N99 (p = 0.04), availability of PPEs (p = 0.06) and facility of cleaning area (p = 0.01). Conclusion The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among DOHCWs is widespread and adversely affect the personal, professional and academic lives of DOHCWs of Nepal. The participants reported experiencing psychological burden, precipitated by financial burden and worries about an uncertain future.


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