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How It Works
Project Design and Methods
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Unique collaboration between Kigali Health Institute, US health professionals, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, local dental associations, nurses in the community health centers, community health workers, NGO’s in the health and education sectors, and Rwandan families to improve the oral health, nutrition, and well-being of rural Rwanda’s children
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Target population: All children in primary schools and their families in the community health workers’ rural villages
Interventions:
- Nutrition/oral health education for health workers, parents, and children
- Toothbrushes for all family members
- Application of fluoride varnish to children’s teeth 3 times per year (Note: Fluoride varnish has been successfully used in Scandinavia, Europe and U.S. for decades, and has been shown to cut rates of tooth decay in half. However, it has not been used extensively in developing countries.)
- Yearly dental exams for children. We apply sealants to healthy permanent teeth. Those children with early tooth decay, we place Atraumatic Restorative Treatments (ART). Those with advanced tooth decay are referred to the district hospital’s dental clinic for treatment
Data collected yearly by:
- Interview of mothers to better understand their knowledge about nutrition and oral health
- Exams of children: dental exam, height and weight
Keys to Success of RRD’s Training Model
- Uses a 1:2 teacher:student ratio
- Encourages students’ questions and feedback
- Provides hands on demonstrations
- Teaches to not harm the patient
- Repeats four stages of training every day
- Promotes team atmosphere
- Teaches respect for each other and the patient
- Embodies fun (humor plays an important role where
appropriate)
- Provides a 1:1 ratio to tutor the slower learners
Expected Outcomes
- An increased knowledge of nutrition and oral health prevention by community health workers, parents, and children
- Families will know the causes of tooth decay and how to prevent it by healthy diets and twice daily tooth brushing
- Children will be given fewer sweets and sodas and more fruits and vegetables
- Children will have less tooth decay
- Fewer children will be malnourished
- The consequences of tooth decay in children such as mouth pain, difficulty in eating, and difficulty in sleeping will decrease by 50%.
- The percentage of mothers who view their children’s oral and general health as excellent will increase.
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