Evaluation of the Ministry of Health school oral health programme in the West Bank region of Palestine.
This paper reports an evaluation of the activities and outcomes of the school oral health programme conducted by the Ministry of Health in public schools in the West Bank region of Palestine from 1997-98 to 2003-04. Retrospective analysis of official records focused on oral health indices and student referrals. A slight improvement in DMFT scores in students in some governorates in the last 2 years showed some progress in caries control. However, maintenance efforts are required to ensure that caries level does not rise in disease-stable areas, and an increase in strategic effort is required to address the high caries level in high-risk areas. In-depth interviews with stakeholders identified the strengths and weaknesses of the screening programme and recommendations for improvements.
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, USA. elhame20@hotmail.com
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Kateeb
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000458:organization & administration; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009909:Oral Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires