Is there a need for the use of atraumatic restorative technique (ART) in the decentralised districts of Uganda?

Muwazi, LM; Mwanika, Andrew; Tirwomwe, JF; Lakor, Francis; Kasangaki, Arabat; Nkamba, EM; Ssali, C; Buwembo, William

doi:10.4314/ajohs.v2i3.29630

Cited by 1 publication

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“…There has been limited research in LMICs on the implementation of oral health promotion in schools. Most research has been on oral health status and the associated risk factors for oral diseases among school children [8][9][10][11]. In Uganda, one study reported on the impact of establishing four health promoting schools in rural communities in Uganda [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of oral health promotion in primary schools among health and education officials, community leaders, policy makers, teachers, and parents in Gulu district, northern Uganda: A qualitative study

Akera,

Kennedy,

Schutte

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Introduction One in every two cases of caries in deciduous teeth occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Healthy Schools Program is to improve the oral health of children. This study explored perceptions of implementation of the Ugandan oral health schools’ program in Gulu district, northern Uganda. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 19 participants including health and education officials, community leaders, policy makers, teachers, and parents. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results Our study identified three themes: (1) components of oral health promotion, (2) implementation challenges of oral health promotion, and (3) development of an oral health policy. The components of oral health promotion in schools included engagement of health workers, the community, companies, skills-based education, and oral health services. Participants were concerned about insufficient funding, unsatisfactory skills-based education, and inadequate dental screening. Participants reported that there was an urgent need to develop oral health policy to guide implementation of the program at scale. Conclusions Schools provided oral health promotion that aligned with existing features of the WHO’s health-promoting school framework. Implementation of this strategy could be enhanced with increased resources, adequate oral health education, and explicit development of oral health policy.

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