The Participatory Learning Mechanisms for Village Health Volunteers Specialized in Oral Health for Oral Health Behavior Management among 12 years old in Nong Han District, Udon Thani, 2020

Abstract

          Objectives of this research and development study were to 1) develop the participatory learning mechanism for village health volunteers (VHV) specialized in oral health for the management of oral health behaviors among 12-year old children in Nong Han District, Udon Thani province, and 2) examine the results of the participatory learning mechanism that was developed. The samples were consisted of 468 children aged 12 years old and 94 village health volunteers. The data were collected through interviews with children about their dental health behaviors and with VHV regarding their involvements in the management of children’s oral health behaviors. The quantitative data were analyzed using percentages and means. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analyses. The results showed that the development process through participatory learning mechanisms with VHV had 6 components: 1) selecting VHV, 2) developing VHV in oral health area, 3) initiating the program, 4) planning the program, 5) implementing the program, and 6) evaluating the program. VHV showed their participations in the management of dental health behaviors among 12-year old at a moderate level. The evaluation of the participatory learning mechanism with the VHV showed improvements in oral health behaviors among children. Brushing teeth before bedtime improved from 51.9% to 73.5%. Brushing teeth for at least 2 minutes or more each time increased from 14.1% to 42.3%. Drinking soft drinks 4-6 days/week decreased from 20.9% to 10.7%. Drinking sweetened fruit juices decreased from 16.7% to 8.7%. Eating candies every day decreased from 7.0 % to 5.6 %. Having spent more than 21 Baht/day for snacks and sweetened beverages decreased from 50.6% to 47.9%. However, it was found that children’s eating crispy snacks every day still slightly increased from 24.6% to 25.4%. Children’s overall dental health problems, including toothache, tooth hypersensitivity, swollen and bleeding gingivitis, tooth decay, tartar and bad breath reduced from 37.2% to 15.4%. It was reported that children with such problems had decreased appetites (66.7%) and oral cleaning 33.3%.