Training rural women to improve
access to oral health awareness
programmes in remote villages in
Nepal
Abstract: Objectives: Description of experiences and results of
training rural women in Nepal to recognize basic oral health problems
and to perform basic oral health promotion activities. Methods: Rural
women from different districts of Nepal were trained in a 1-day course
in oral health promotion as part of a 4-month vocational skills
programme targeted at them. Their knowledge about preventive oral
care, their recognition of basic oral health problems and their ability to
perform basic oral health education were assessed qualitatively and
quantitatively before and after the course. Results: From 2006 to 2009,
141 women from 30 mostly rural districts were trained. Following the
educational intervention, an overall trend towards improvement of their
oral health awareness and their knowledge was documented. They
proved to be competent in oral health promotion activities, in
demonstrating oral hygiene techniques and in recognizing basic oral
health problems. They were able to organize oral health awareness
programmes in their villages and acted as advocates for the benefits
of fluoridated toothpaste. After 3 years, they educated 2100 other
community members, with at least 4000 children participating in their
oral health awareness programmes. Conclusion: A community-oriented
educational intervention programme for rural women in basic oral
health promotion activities could be a successful culturally sensitive
means to support access to oral health awareness programmes for
Nepalese people in remote areas.
Key words: campaigns; caries; collaborative approach; culturally
sensitive health programmes; dental hygiene; developing countries;
knowledge; oral health; oral health promotion; oral hygiene;
periodontal disease; primary prevention; research; rural women; status