Effect of health education intervention conducted by Primary Health Care workers on oral health knowledge and practices of nursing mothers in Lagos State
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Date
2018
Authors
Adeniyi, Abiola Adetokunbo
Oyapero, Afolabi
Ajieroh, Victor
Sofola, Oyinkansola
Asiyanbi, Oladapo
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Public Health in Africa
Abstract
Educational interventions on oral health
care is traditionally carried out mainly by
oral health workers in Nigeria. Despite the
introduction of the National Oral Health
Policy, oral health services/education is virtually
non-existent in PHC centres in
Nigeria. This study sought to determine the
effect of a health education intervention
delivered by Community Health Officers
(CHO) on the oral health knowledge and
practices of mothers attending a PHC centre
in Lagos State. A pre-experimental, Before-
After study design was employed. An interviewer-
administered questionnaire was
administered at baseline to assess the oral
health care knowledge and practices of 267
mothers who enrolled in the programme.
After enrolling the participants, CHO’s previously
trained commenced a health education
intervention on oral health. The intervention,
which consisted of 2 lecture sessions,
a demonstration session and a return
demonstration session, utilising flipcharts
and health information leaflets spanned a
six-month period. Oral health knowledge
and practices of participating mothers was
evaluated 3 and 6 months after the intervention
commenced using a standardised
checklist. Data entry and analysis was done
using SPSS version 20, P-value of <0.05
was considered significant. The mean oral
health knowledge score at baseline was 4.58
(±1.37) while at 3-month and 6-month postintervention
the mean scores were 4.68
(±0.97) and 4.96 (±0.49), respectively.
There was a statistically significant increase
(P=0.000) in the mean knowledge scores at
6 months post-intervention. Mothers who
were 36 years or older and those with more
than 12 years education displayed significantlysignificantly
better knowledge scores (P<0.05).
Most (78.3%) reported using cotton wool or
foam with water for their infants’ oral
hygiene. By the second post-intervention
visit, there was a significant change in the
perception of the mothers on correct oral
hygiene tool for infants (52.3%; P=0.000).
Furthermore the percentage of mothers
actually using toothbrush to clean their
child’s mouth (98.1%; P=0.000) had
increased.
The oral health knowledge of the participants
increased significantly following the
intervention especially at the 6-month evaluation.
PHC workers can successfully carry
out oral health educational interventions at
PHC level. The greatest value will occur
with reinforced repetition of the messages
Description
Keywords
Oral health knowledge; oral health practices; health education; primary health care workers.