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An oral health programme for schoolchildren in Kuwait 1986-97
M Vigild1, M Skougaard, R Hadi
1School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Community Dental Health
|January 21, 2000
Summary
A school-based oral health program adapted from Danish guidelines was successfully implemented in Kuwait, significantly improving children's oral health. The program involved regular brushing, fluoride treatments, and dental care, showing positive results in caries reduction.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Dentistry
- International Health Policy
Background:
- Kuwait aimed to enhance community dental services by implementing a school-based oral health program.
- The program was designed to follow the established guidelines of the Danish Child Oral Health Service.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of adapting the Danish Child Oral Health Service model in Kuwait.
- To assess the impact of the adapted program on the oral health of Kuwaiti children.
Main Methods:
- Successive cross-sectional surveys conducted in Al-Ahmadi governorate from 1986-1997.
- Clinical examinations of primary school children, including dental caries scoring using WHO criteria.
- Interventions included supervised tooth brushing, fluoride rinsing, fissure sealing, oral health education, and restorative care.
Main Results:
- High average participation rate of 94% was achieved.
- The percentage of caries-free children in second grade increased from 64% in 1987 to 79% in 1997.
- The program demonstrated a positive trend in improving children's oral health outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The Danish Child Oral Health Service principles were successfully adapted for implementation in Kuwait.
- Parents and teachers accepted the school-based delivery of dental care.
- The study concluded that the adapted program improved children's oral health, though societal changes were also considered as a contributing factor.