Abstract

Background: In India, there is an inequitable distribution of skilled dental practitioners. 70% of the Indian population resides in the rural area, for which only 30% of dental facilities are accessible. Anganwadi workers (AWWs) are grassroot workers responsible for health. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of oral health training on oral health status and habits of preschool children who were attending anganwadi centers (AWC) in District Bandipora of Jammu and Kashmir state.
Materials and Methods: This comparison study was conducted in anganwadis of District Bandipora of Jammu and Kashmir state. The anganwadis caters to around 35,000 preschool children. The sample size for the study was determined to be 496 students by EPI-INFO WHO package. A total of 19 anganwadis were selected. All the children aged 3-6 years attending the selected AWC were included in the study. The AWWs were provided with oral health training. After baseline data collection, end line data (post-training) were collected after 3 months.
Results: During pre-training, the prevalence of dental caries was found to be 51.4%. The mean decayed, missing, filled teeth were higher in 4-5 years age group (2.72) as compared to 5-6 years (2.53) and 3-4 years age group (1.53). Only 4.2% of the population reported to brushing twice or more daily before the training, which increased to 9.9% post-training. There was a decrease in debris (78.3-54.1%) and halitosis (42.9-23.2%). Conclusion: It is established by the study that imparting knowledge and skills to AWWs regarding oral health improves the oral health status among children and also inculcate positive oral habits among them.