Dental aid organisations: baseline data about their reality today.
OBJECTIVE
To collect basic data about non-governmental dental aid organisations on a global scale and thus contribute to a better understanding of their diversity, activities and limitations.


METHODS
Data was collected through a mailed questionnaire to all organisations listed by the FDI World Dental Federation. A second questionnaire was e-mailed to those organisations identified as non-governmental organisations (NGO) by the first questionnaire.


RESULTS
The response rate to the first questionnaire to detect NGOs was 36.2%, to the second e-mailed form 84.4%. About two thirds of NGOs originated in developed countries, one third responded from developing countries. The majority had been established after 1980. Developed countries dental NGOs tended to have larger membership and disposed of greater budgets. In general, income was generated predominantly from donations and own resources. The workforce was primarily based on volunteers. High priority activities: service provision, education and training, technical assistance, community development. Measures for quality assurance showed low complexity. Frequent areas of problems were associated with funding and staff. Collaborative links with other stakeholders in development were weak and focussed on information exchange.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations for NGOs, donors, FDI and future research are developed.
Benzian
Habib
H
FDI World Dental Federation, Ferney Voltaire, France. hbenzian@fdiworldental.org
Gelbier
Stanley
S
D002017:Budgets; D003142:Communication; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003752:Dental Health Services; D003813:Dentistry; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D004497:Education, Dental; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005378:Financial Support; D014943:Global Health; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007390:International Agencies / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013674:Technology, Dental; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014838:Volunteers