Paper instructions
Directions: You are the public health dental hygienist for your state and/or county which you live. You have been given the task of presenting a proposal to government officials to increase funding for oral health education for special needs populations. (1) Identify the special needs population you feel is MOST in need of oral health education (2) Identify what contributes to oral disease for this specific population (3) Identify the current barriers to care for this population (4) Create one oral health related SMART objective for increasing oral health education for this special needs population (5) Identify key stakeholders needed to increase oral health education for this special needs population.
Solution
Oral Health Education Program
Various vulnerable groups have oral health issues since they lack adequate knowledge about the importance of check-ups and the means to get treated. One such group is individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). The group has numerous health challenges, including poor oral health; hence they require adequate support to achieve desirable outcomes. While numerous interventions are necessary to improve their oral health, education is the most effective because it provides critical information about when and how to seek help.
The Special Needs Population
The special need population covered by the proposed education program are pregnant individuals. The individuals are a special need group since they need proper care in order to protect even the the unborn baby. Those from low-income and marginalized communities are at a higher risk since they tend to prioritize other medical issues apart from oral health. Therefore, lack of medical insurance could cause greater vulnerability among pregnant women.
Contributors of Oral Disease
Various factors contribute to oral diseases during pregnancy. Gravidness can cause gum diseases and high risk of tooth decay. High hormones can affect the response of the woman’s body to plaque; thus, if pregnant women fail to take enough calcium, the demand of pregnancy can cause dental challenges. The greatest problem is that some people fail to observe oral hygiene and use regular care during pregnancy. As a result, such ladies have a high risk of related diseases.
Barriers to Care for this Population
The rate of oral health during pregnancy is low due to various factors, such as low income, literacy, and language barriers. Regardless of the importance of oral health during pregnancy due to calcium deficiency, only 22% to 34% of ladies seek care. The rates are even lower among people from low-income backgrounds and the uninsured. Besides, a lack of information among patients and health professionals may affect oral health-seeking behaviors. The problem is also worse among women with inadequate education, health literacy and language barriers.
Oral Health-Related SMART Objective
The objective of the oral health education program is to increase the level of related literacy among pregnant women to increase the number that seeks dental health care during pregnancy from between 22%-34% to 55%-65% in three months. Notably, achieving the objective will improve oral health among pregnant individuals.
Key Stakeholders
Dental health professionals will engage in community education in collaboration ith other health workers since they know the common oral health problems during pregnancy. Pregnant women and their families, such as spouses and partners, will also be involved in the education programs since they are part of the decision-making process when seeking care. The government and other agencies should provide funding to support the implementation of the proposed program. Midwives can play an essential role in promoting the tendency to seek dental health care during gravidity as they are the primary caregivers during the gestation period.
Conclusion
Pregnant women should continue seeking dental health examinations and necessary treatment due to their high consumption rate of calcium to support the growing baby. As a result, they face possible related health problems, such as cavity. Therefore, continuous and routine checkups are important, especially during the second trimester. Stakeholders should support various programs to educate and create awareness regarding oral issues during pregnancy, especially among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, about the need for and where to get treatment.
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