Dental education in the rural community: a Nigerian experience
Olushola Ibiyemi1, Juliana O Taiwo, Gbemisola A Oke
1Department of Periodontology and Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. shola_ibiyemi@yahoo.com
Abstract:
At the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, dental students are prepared not only to provide skilled care to individual patients, but also to assume responsibility for the community as a whole. In establishing the rural posting program for dental students, it was planned that all fifth year dental students would undertake a rural posting at Igboora, approximately 80 km from Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. During this 6 week immersion experience students learn about living in a rural area where they provide community oral health services. This report provides recommendations for initiating, sustaining and expanding rural dental education programs.
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