Measure Status: Active
Evidence Level: Expert Opinion. Aligns with MCHbest strategy "Provider Education" (). Find other NPM 13.1 provider-level strategies in MCHbest.
Measurement Quadrant: Quadrant 4: Measuring quality of effect (% of "is anyone better off")
Service Type: Direct services level of pyramid
Essential Public Health Services: 8. Build and support a workforce
Service Recipient: Activities directed to professionals
Goal: Increase the percentage of medical providers who reported an increase of oral health knowledge following trainings and presentations throughout the year
Numerator: Number of medical providers who indicated an increase of oral health knowledge
Denominator: Total number of medical providers who attended the trainings and presentations
Significance: Oral health is a vital component of overall health. Access to oral health care, oral health education and improved oral health literacy, good oral hygiene, practicing good oral health behaviors and adequate nutrition are essential components of oral health to help ensure that children, adolescents, and adults achieve and maintain oral health. People with limited access to preventive oral health services are at great risk for oral diseases.
Oral health care remains the greatest unmet health need for children. Insufficient access to oral health care and effective preventive services affects children’s health, education, and ability to prosper. Early dental visits teach children that oral health is important. Children who receive oral health care early in life are more likely to have a good attitude about oral health professionals and dental visits. Poor oral health during pregnancy has been linked to preterm birth, low birth weight babies, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia. Therefore oral health should be considered a vital component of comprehensive prenatal care. Additionally, pregnant women who receive oral health care are more likely to take their children to get oral health care.
State Title V Maternal and Child Health programs have long recognized the importance of improving the availability and quality of services to improve oral health for children and pregnant women. States monitor and guide service delivery to assure that all children have access to preventive oral health services. Strategies for promoting oral health include providing preventive interventions, such as dental sealants and use of fluoride, increase the capacity of State oral health programs to provide preventive services, evaluating and improving methods of monitoring oral diseases and conditions, and increase the number of community health centers with an oral health component.
Data Sources and Data Issues: Data Source: Georgia OBGyn Society (GOGS) and Georgia Academy Family Physicians (GAFP) Survey Data
Year: 2021
Unit Type: Percentage, Unit Number: 100