ERIC Number: ED363485
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1993
Pages: 47
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Meeting the Dental Hygiene Needs of Elementary Hispanic Migrant Students through Supplemental Health Instruction and Services in a Community Setting.
Ramnarine, Carol Anne
This report describes and evaluates a program to improve the dental health of Hispanic migrant children in a Los Angles County school district. Difficulties in providing dental health care to this population included the high cost of dental care, limited access to dental services, poor nutrition, and lack of parental involvement. The 3-month program consisted of community awareness activities, dental screening of 134 migrant students, recruitment of 3 local dentists to accept state medical assistance payments, recruitment of parents to participate in dental health education, selection and development of bilingual dental hygiene education materials for elementary migrant students and their parents, and treatment arrangements for students with urgent dental care needs. Program outcomes indicate that 47 children who consistently participated in dental hygiene instruction did not develop additional cavities. Children whose parents were active in the program were consistent in dental hygiene practices and showed improved dental health. Although 15 children with urgent dental care needs received treatment, an additional 48 children still needed dental care at the end of the program. Although the program was successful in meeting most of its objectives, there is a need to increase long-term dental services, including preventive care, to low-income children. Appendices include parent permission form and dental screening form. (LP)
Descriptors: Access to Health Care, Community Involvement, Dental Health, Elementary Education, Elementary School Students, Health Education, Hispanic Americans, Hygiene, Migrant Children, Migrant Education, Migrant Health Services, Migrant Programs, Parent Participation, Program Evaluation, School Health Services
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Practicum Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A