Evaluation of the change in the knowledge of community regarding infant dental care subsequent to intervention strategies through existing health manpower in rural areas of Haryana (India).

ABSTRACT

The knowledge about infant dental care (as a part of primary preventive programme) was delivered by the existing health team of CHC viz. medical doctors, multipurpose workers, health workers, Anganwadi workers (ICDS scheme), after due training from the dental experts, in the rural community of Raipur Rani (Haryana). The knowledge of community regarding infant dental care subsequent to intervention strategies when evaluated and compared to baseline values three years after intervention revealed that 72 percent of the community had the correct knowledge of prolonged breast/bottle feeding causing nursing bottle caries. 94 per cent had correct knowledge about harmful effects of thumb/finger sucking on teeth and jaw bones and 77 percent about harmful effects of mouth breathing. 98 percent of expecting mothers knew when to clean the gum pads and 62 percent how to clean the gum pads in an infant. 100 percent of the expecting mothers had the correct knowledge that pacifiers should not be used in small children.