Abstract
The main aim of this study is to get the Malaysian chief dentists’ perceptions of the oral health promotion activities currently taking place in their respective states in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of these activities. A qualitative method using an open-ended questionnaire was used to obtain this information. The study samples consist of all the chief dentists in Malaysia who represented a majority of population in their states. The results showed that the main current oral health promotion activities is dental health education talks which aims to disseminate oral health information through health education talks, toothbrushing drills, dental exhibition, pamphlets, brochures and publications. Half of the respondents felt that the commitment of the staff, the support of the public sectors and collaboration with other agencies are the main strengths while the lack of staff and fund has been said as the weaknesses. A range of opportunitieshowever exist to strengthen oral health promotion in Malaysia.
Highlights
The origins of health promotion lie in the 19th century when epidemic disease led to pressure for sanitary reform for the poor and overcrowded living conditions
The policy is top down, their knowledge and experience will give an invaluable insight of oral health promotion activities in Malaysia
Caution should be exercised in generalising the finding to reflect the views of all state chief dentists
Summary
The origins of health promotion lie in the 19th century when epidemic disease led to pressure for sanitary reform for the poor and overcrowded living conditions. In 1974, Lalonde described health promotion as the first step in development of a new approach to population health. He expressed the view that the major causes of mortality and morbidity were due to environmental causes, individual behaviours, and lifestyle factors rather than to biomedical characteristics. A later publication, the Ottawa Charter (WHO, 1986) provide the strategic framework that was needed to achieve Health for All (1) It used the terms enabling, mediating and advocating to describe what Health Promotion could achieve. The Ottawa Charter presented 5 keys area which provide a useful structure to explore options for promoting oral health.
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