Effect of oral health initiatives on reduction in oral morbidities in Ashram schools of Wardha district– A cluster randomized trial

Abstract

Ashram schools are residential schools developed for underprivileged groups of society who are weak in organizations and  economically poor. In general, in all the states, the major obstacle is lack of provision of capacity building and teachers training in  serving of the Ashram schools. 8 ashram schools were then randomly divided into control group and intervention group. In the control group, end line oral health assessment using the WHO assessment form 2013 was carried out without any health promotion program.  In the intervention group, the oral health care module specifically designed for ashram schools, were implemented. In this group, end  line oral health assessments were carried out. Treatments of the minor ailment, oral health program, behaviour change  communication model for the schools were implemented. The need-based oral health module was developed for tribal students. The effect size for the intervention was 17.3% indicating 17.3% reduction in dental caries due to intervention (95%CI: -12.3% to-21.62%). The effect was statistically significant. The effect size for the intervention was -43.2 %. Indicating 43.2 % reduction in periodontal diseases  due to intervention(95%CI: (-50.7% to -34.1%). The effect was statistically significant. The magnitude of fluorosis in the control group  increased by 4.8 % from 28.85% to 33.64 %. During the same time, the magnitude in intervention arm decreases by 3.5% from 47.71 %  to 44.20 %. The success of the school-based oral health program depends on the repetition and reinforcement of the program,  independent of the dentists, peer leaders and the teachers. It was concluded from this study that the presence of teachers and peers,  can influence the study majorly.