Assessing the Impact of Community-Based Oral Health Education Programs on Dental Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Rural Populations

Background: Community-based oral health education programs are essential in improving dental hygiene practices and oral health outcomes, particularly in rural populations where access to dental care is limited. This study assesses the impact of such programs on dental hygiene practices and oral heal...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Swapnil S. Bumb, Pushparaj Singh, Sahana Maben, Prasannasrinivas Deshpande, Mrinal V. Limaye, Hanadi A. Alwafi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1066_24
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841543530729701376
author Swapnil S. Bumb
Pushparaj Singh
Sahana Maben
Prasannasrinivas Deshpande
Mrinal V. Limaye
Hanadi A. Alwafi
author_facet Swapnil S. Bumb
Pushparaj Singh
Sahana Maben
Prasannasrinivas Deshpande
Mrinal V. Limaye
Hanadi A. Alwafi
author_sort Swapnil S. Bumb
collection DOAJ
description Background: Community-based oral health education programs are essential in improving dental hygiene practices and oral health outcomes, particularly in rural populations where access to dental care is limited. This study assesses the impact of such programs on dental hygiene practices and oral health outcomes in rural communities. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-month oral health education program conducted in five rural villages. A total of 300 participants, aged 18-60 years, were selected through stratified random sampling. The intervention included bi-weekly educational sessions on oral hygiene practices, proper brushing techniques, and the importance of regular dental check-ups. Data on dental hygiene practices were collected through structured questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention. Oral health outcomes were assessed using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and gingival health was evaluated through gingival index scores. Results: Post-intervention analysis showed a significant improvement in dental hygiene practices among participants, with 75% reporting regular brushing compared to 45% at baseline. The mean DMFT score decreased from 5.2 to 3.8 (P < 0.05), and the average gingival index score improved from 2.1 to 1.4 (P < 0.05). Additionally, the frequency of dental check-ups increased by 40%, indicating a positive behavioral shift in the community. Conclusion: Community-based oral health education programs significantly improve dental hygiene practices and oral health outcomes in rural populations.
format Article
id doaj-art-48ccc87e82fc405fb2b2472433cdd223
institution Kabale University
issn 0976-4879
0975-7406
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-48ccc87e82fc405fb2b2472433cdd2232025-01-13T10:07:25ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences0976-48790975-74062024-12-0116Suppl 4S3574S357610.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1066_24Assessing the Impact of Community-Based Oral Health Education Programs on Dental Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Rural PopulationsSwapnil S. BumbPushparaj SinghSahana MabenPrasannasrinivas DeshpandeMrinal V. LimayeHanadi A. AlwafiBackground: Community-based oral health education programs are essential in improving dental hygiene practices and oral health outcomes, particularly in rural populations where access to dental care is limited. This study assesses the impact of such programs on dental hygiene practices and oral health outcomes in rural communities. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-month oral health education program conducted in five rural villages. A total of 300 participants, aged 18-60 years, were selected through stratified random sampling. The intervention included bi-weekly educational sessions on oral hygiene practices, proper brushing techniques, and the importance of regular dental check-ups. Data on dental hygiene practices were collected through structured questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention. Oral health outcomes were assessed using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and gingival health was evaluated through gingival index scores. Results: Post-intervention analysis showed a significant improvement in dental hygiene practices among participants, with 75% reporting regular brushing compared to 45% at baseline. The mean DMFT score decreased from 5.2 to 3.8 (P < 0.05), and the average gingival index score improved from 2.1 to 1.4 (P < 0.05). Additionally, the frequency of dental check-ups increased by 40%, indicating a positive behavioral shift in the community. Conclusion: Community-based oral health education programs significantly improve dental hygiene practices and oral health outcomes in rural populations.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1066_24community-based programsdental hygiene practicesdmft indexgingival healthoral health educationoral health outcomesrural populations
spellingShingle Swapnil S. Bumb
Pushparaj Singh
Sahana Maben
Prasannasrinivas Deshpande
Mrinal V. Limaye
Hanadi A. Alwafi
Assessing the Impact of Community-Based Oral Health Education Programs on Dental Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Rural Populations
Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences
community-based programs
dental hygiene practices
dmft index
gingival health
oral health education
oral health outcomes
rural populations
title Assessing the Impact of Community-Based Oral Health Education Programs on Dental Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Rural Populations
title_full Assessing the Impact of Community-Based Oral Health Education Programs on Dental Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Rural Populations
title_fullStr Assessing the Impact of Community-Based Oral Health Education Programs on Dental Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Rural Populations
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the Impact of Community-Based Oral Health Education Programs on Dental Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Rural Populations
title_short Assessing the Impact of Community-Based Oral Health Education Programs on Dental Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Rural Populations
title_sort assessing the impact of community based oral health education programs on dental hygiene practices and oral health outcomes in rural populations
topic community-based programs
dental hygiene practices
dmft index
gingival health
oral health education
oral health outcomes
rural populations
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1066_24
work_keys_str_mv AT swapnilsbumb assessingtheimpactofcommunitybasedoralhealtheducationprogramsondentalhygienepracticesandoralhealthoutcomesinruralpopulations
AT pushparajsingh assessingtheimpactofcommunitybasedoralhealtheducationprogramsondentalhygienepracticesandoralhealthoutcomesinruralpopulations
AT sahanamaben assessingtheimpactofcommunitybasedoralhealtheducationprogramsondentalhygienepracticesandoralhealthoutcomesinruralpopulations
AT prasannasrinivasdeshpande assessingtheimpactofcommunitybasedoralhealtheducationprogramsondentalhygienepracticesandoralhealthoutcomesinruralpopulations
AT mrinalvlimaye assessingtheimpactofcommunitybasedoralhealtheducationprogramsondentalhygienepracticesandoralhealthoutcomesinruralpopulations
AT hanadiaalwafi assessingtheimpactofcommunitybasedoralhealtheducationprogramsondentalhygienepracticesandoralhealthoutcomesinruralpopulations