Evaluation of a specially-designed educational and interventional programme on institutionalized visually impaired...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Special Needs Oral Health
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Visually impaired children often face unique challenges in maintaining oral hygiene.
• Existing oral health education programs may not adequately address the needs of this population.
• Assessing oral health knowledge and practices is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, implement, and evaluate a tailored oral health care program for visually impaired children.
• To assess the program's efficacy over a 12-month period.
• To determine the impact of reinforcement strategies on oral health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A structured questionnaire assessed oral health knowledge and practices.
• A customized oral health education program was delivered to children and teachers.
• Oral health status was evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
• Statistical analyses included independent t-test, paired t-test, and Spearman's correlation.

Main Results:

• Participants (5-16 years) demonstrated good theoretical knowledge but lacked practical application.
• Overall oral hygiene scores significantly improved, decreasing from 2.06 ± 1.20 to 1.24 ± 0.79 (p < 0.001).
• The intervention led to a marked improvement in the oral hygiene status of visually impaired children.

Conclusions:

• The customized oral health education program proved effective in enhancing the oral health of visually impaired children.
• Repeated reinforcement sessions were vital for the program's success.
• This study highlights the importance of tailored interventions for improving oral health in special needs populations.