Work

Strengthening oral health promotion in remote riverine populations in the Brazilian Amazon: a community-based participatory intervention study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Strengthening oral health promotion in remote riverine populations is essential for reducing persistent inequities in oral health. This study evaluated the outcomes of a community-based participatory intervention designed to enhance oral health knowledge, behaviors, and conditions among residents of a remote riverine community in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: A community-based participatory intervention was implemented based on the five action areas of the Ottawa Charter. Data were collected at baseline (T0) and after 8 months (T1) through face-to-face interviews using the Health Literacy in Dentistry-14 (HeLD-14) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 instruments, for oral health literacy and oral health-related quality of life, complementary questionnaires on health behaviors and service use, and clinical oral examinations. Differences between T0 and T1 were analyzed using Wilcoxon paired, McNemar, and Cochran's Q tests. RESULTS: Following the intervention, participants demonstrated improvements in oral health literacy and oral health beliefs (p<0.001), oral health-related quality of life (p<0.001), and periodontal conditions, with significant reductions in gingival bleeding and dental calculus (p≤0.001). Dental service utilization increased (p=0.004), although economic barriers persisted. No change was observed in the DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index. CONCLUSION: The intervention positively influenced key oral health outcomes in this remote riverine population. These findings highlight the potential of participatory, community-driven strategies to strengthen oral health promotion in rural and remote settings.

Source: Rural and Remote Health

DOI: 10.22605/rrh9904

Authors: Diego Cordeiro, Fernando J Herkrath, Carlos Augusto da Silva Araújo Junior, Ana Paula CQ Herkrath

Institutions: Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Language: English

Topic: Dental Health and Care Utilization

Subfield: Periodontics

Field: Dentistry

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas