June 2020

Volume 37, Issue 2

Outcomes of a co-designed, community-led oral health promotion program for Aboriginal children in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia

Authors: Yvonne Dimitropoulos Alexander Holden Kylie Gwynne Loc Do Roy Byun Woosung Sohn
doi: 10.1922/CDH_00005Dimitropoulos06

Abstract

Objective: Improving the oral health of Aboriginal children is an Australian priority. Public policy recommends the development of evidence-based, culturally competent oral health promotion programs. Positive health outcomes are more likely for Aboriginal people when programs are co-designed with the community and tailored to local needs. This study aims to determine the impact of a community-led oral health promotion program for Aboriginal children in rural and remote communities. Basic research design: Consecutive surveys. Baseline data were collected on the oral health of Aboriginal children aged five-12 years in rural and remote communities in Central Northern New South Wales in 2014. Then, an evidence-based oral health promotion program was co-designed with local Aboriginal communities. It included daily toothbrushing, water bottle program, regular application of fluoride varnish, regular distribution of toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste and dental health education and commenced in 2016 in three schools in the region. In 2018, oral health status and oral hygiene behaviours of participating children were compared against baseline data to evaluate the program. Results: There was a significant reduction in tooth decay, plaque scores and gingivitis. The mean number of teeth affected by tooth decay was 4.13, compared to 5.31 in 2014. An increase was also seen in positive oral hygiene behaviour. Conclusions: The co-design elements of the program are critical to its success. Engaging local Aboriginal communities to co-design and deliver oral health promotion can reduce the burden of tooth decay experienced by Aboriginal children. Keywords: Child; Oral Health; Australia; Health Promotion

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Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editorial: Child oral health; is there anything more to know? 108-109 Download
Caregiver oral health literacy: relationship with socioeconomic factors, oral health behaviors and perceived child dental status 110-114 Download
Associations between caries levels and BMI measures among five-year-old children. Analysis and cross-sectional multi-variable analysis at an individual child level 115-120 Download
Dental Public Health in Action:Challenges and learning in carrying out an enhanced sample to provide small area data for the dental survey of five-year-old children in England 121-124 Download
Randomized Controlled Trial: The effects of Short Message Service on mothers’ oral health knowledge and practice 125-131 Download
Outcomes of a co-designed, community-led oral health promotion program for Aboriginal children in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia 132-137 Download
Greater child dental health inequality in England compared to Wales and Northern Ireland, despite lower average disease levels 138-142 Download
Everyone else is using it, so why isn’t the UK? Silver diamine fluoride for children and young people 143-149 Download
Community-based oral health interventions for people experiencing homelessness: a scoping review 150-160 Download
Deprivation and child dental attendance in England: exploring the shape and moderators 161-166 Download
Letter to the Editor 167-168 Download
Meeting report: The 4th Iranian Congress of Community Oral Health 169-169 Download
IADR Symposium report Special Supplement in the March 2020 Issue of Community Dental Health 170-170 Download

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