Family and Community Participation in Oral Health Promotion System Development of Children in Nongphu Child Care Center, Khaowong District, Kalasin Province.

Abstract

The objective of this action research was to develop an oral health promotion system of children in childcare center through family and community participation. The study was conducted from 174 children and their family in Nongphu childcare center, Khaowong district, Kalasin Province. Quantitative data was collected from children oral health status, oral health behavior survey. Qualitative data was collected by participatory observation, focus group discussion, in depth interview.  The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in relation to frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, median and paired t - test with statistically significant 0.05 (p - value < 0.05) to compare the difference of data before and after the development. 

            The results found that 174 children, age 4.8±1.2 years, most of the children had dental caries (79.3%). After the system implementation it was found that the parents’ knowledge, attitude and behaviors were statistically significant improved (p-value<0.001). The parents had increasing knowledge about time period to begin tooth brushing and sleeping with bottle feeding were causes dental caries (55.1 and 50.6%).  The parents have increasing positive attitude of dental treatment if their children had dental caries and brushing before bedtime (86.8 and 85.6%).  The parents’ behavior was improved; their children received dental treatment by dental personal and oral examination after tooth brushing by their parents (46.0 and 69.5%). The teacher had activities and exercise for children about teeth brushing. The childcare center announced oral health promotion policies and allocated financial support as well as continuously organized oral health promotion activities. Dental health personnel reoriented their child oral health strategies form health educator to facilitator and advocacy. This study demonstrated the application of family and community participation concepts to developed oral health promotion programs which successfully improved children’s oral health care behavior.