%0 Journal Article
%T Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Health Care System
%A Abolghasem Hajizamani
%A Tayebeh Malek Mohammadi
%A Ebadollah Hajmohammadi
%A Shahin Shafiee
%J ISRN Dentistry
%D 2012
%R 10.5402/2012/657068
%X Introduction. Systematic evaluation is an integral part of the organization and delivery of community oral health care programmes, ensuring the effectiveness of these community-based interventions. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of primary health care (PHC) personnel regarding their duties toward oral health. Methods and Material. A cross-sectional study was carried out among three groups of PHC personnel in the city of Kerman (Iran). Volunteer personnel completed a piloted questionnaire which included demographic data, some question regarding their knowledge about oral health, their duties and also their practice regarding public oral health. All data were analyzed using chi-square and Pearson correlation test. Results. One hundred and fifty-seven out of 225 eligible personnel participated in the study. Sixty percent were auxiliary health workers (Behvarz). All personnel had a good level of knowledge regarding oral health. Despite significant differences among the knowledge of the personnel toward oral health, there was no significant difference between their knowledge related to their duties regarding oral health. The auxiliary health worker group had a higher rate (45.6%) for better public oral health practice. Conclusion. The study showed the personnel have good knowledge of their duties regarding oral health. However, their practice is not in line with their knowledge and needs more attention. 1. Introduction Tooth decay and gum disease are among the most common diseases in human society, which take up a lot of family time and expenditure [1]. The national oral health survey which was carried out in 1997 showed that the average DMFT in children aged 12 in Iran was 1.5 [2]. About 80% of this value includes carious tooth and this figure rose to 1.8, according to the next national oral health survey which was carried out by the oral health bureau in the year 2003 [3]. Since then, the reasons behind the spread and occurrence of oral diseases were recognized and their prevention was emphasized. The reduction of these illnesses in many countries around the world is thanks to the prevention philosophy. The first step in prevention is to promote the culture of oral health in people [4]. After the WHO declaration in Alm-Ata in 1979 to try to achieve the goal of ˇ°Health for Allˇ± and the efforts for creating a primary health care (PHC) network around the world and in Iran, eventually dental and oral health services in a lot of countries were passed on to this network [5]. In turn, in 1994 oral health services in Iran were integrated
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.dentistry/2012/657068/