This Is AuburnElectronic Theses and Dissertations

The Evaluation of a Dental Hygiene Education Intervention on the Oral Health Practices and Knowledge of Residents of Kimuli Village, Uganda

Date

2013-11-06

Author

Parr, Kemaly

Type of Degree

dissertation

Department

Education Foundation, Leadership, and Technology

Abstract

According to Muhirwe (2003), Uganda has no structured oral healthcare system which might possibly allow the citizens to acquire the knowledge and access to appropriate oral healthcare. Since Ugandan villagers have limited access to healthcare and Uganda as a country has basically unstructured healthcare, individuals within Ugandan villages may not be aware of their susceptibility to disease. Educational interventions have changed individual’s attitudes and influenced practice (Brijlal & Gordon, 2005; Macnab & Kasangaki, 2012; Tapsoba, & Deschamps, 1997). There has been a lack of research and educational interventions within Ugandan villages to identify or change attitudes toward oral health and practices in personal oral health maintenance. The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health knowledge and dental health of the oral cavities of the residents of the Kimuli Village in Uganda. This study also evaluated the effects of a dental hygiene education intervention upon the currently practiced oral health cleansing methods. An oral health pretest questionnaire was administered before and after the intervention and it was based on World Health Organization criteria and provided recommended data collection methods. The oral cavities of the participants were disclosed which revealed the level of plaque biofilm on the teeth through a minimally invasive examination of their teeth. Plaque scores were recorded before and after the intervention and coded into a confidential document. The change in pre- and post-test plaque scores for this study indicated a strong positive relationship between a dental hygiene educational intervention and the level of plaque scores in villagers of Kimuli. The findings of this study are consistent with the findings of previous studies which stressed the importance of educational intervention in order to enlighten and inform a population of the state of their health. Through the acquisition of education, the population may elect to exchange poor health habits for more favorable habits.