Knowledge evaluation of communities operated by the “Promotion and prevention program in oral health for preschoolers” Region Metropolitana

Abstract

In Chile the dental caries affects a large part of the population, compromising their quality of life from an early age, particularly in the most vulnerable sectors of society. The Health Education is the strategy used by the «Promotion and Prevention Program in Early Childhood Oral Health» to encourage and incorporate healthy habits in preschool children, their representatives and officials in charge of their care.

This descriptive study aimed to determine the level of knowledge in Oral Health of officials and representatives of JUNJI and INTEGRA kindergartens, according to their participation in educational workshops of the Promotion and Prevention Program in Early Childhood Oral Health in the Region Metropolitana, during 2010, for which conducted a selfadministered survey type test. A total of 558 surveys there was obtained (261 officials and 297 representatives).

Results: 56% of officials and 22.8% of representatives respondents said have participated in oral health workshops conducted in kindergartens. Officials and representatives trained in educational workshops had a higher percentage of approval ttest of knowledge about oral health than their untrained peers.

Conclusion: The training through educational workshops, improve the oral health knowledge in officials and representatives. Thereby contributing to the objectives of the Promotion and Prevention Program in Early Childhood Oral Health.