Development Of Health Programs Research Articles

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among children of immigrants: immigrant generation and family poverty

ABSTRACT Objectives: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders diagnosed among children in the US. However, little knowledge is available about ADHD prevalence among children of immigrants, the fastest-growing population in the US. This study seeks to examine ADHD rates among children of immigrants in different generations compared to children of US-born parents and their association with family poverty. Design: The sample includes 83,362 children aged 0–17 from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2010–2018 data. Multivariate logistic regression model is used to estimate prevalence of ADHD among children of immigrants compared to children of US-born parents. We then compare ADHD rates among the children sample in different immigrant generations. For all analyses, we examine ADHD occurrence separately for children in families living below the poverty threshold and those at or above the poverty threshold. Results: The odds of having ADHD were significantly lower among children of immigrants compared to children of US-born parents. Both first-generation children and second-generation children of immigrants had significantly lower odds of having ADHD than children of US-born parents. Post hoc tests find that first-generation children had lower odds of having ADHD compared to second-generation children. Likewise, additional analyses showed that children of immigrants, first-generation children in particular, were less likely to have ADHD compared to children of US-born parents, in both lower- and higher-income families. Conclusion: Using a nationally representative sample of children, we find that the likelihood of having ADHD increases with higher generations, detecting differences in ADHD prevalence by immigration generation. Importantly, first-generation children had a significantly lower risk of having ADHD conditions compared to second-generation children and children of US-born parents, regardless of family socio-economic status. Public health policy and program development would gain from a clear comprehension of the shielding attributes of ADHD among immigrant families.

Survival rate of cervical cancer in Asian countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveCancer is one of the main causes of death, and cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of death from malignancy among women. Knowing the survival rate is used to evaluate the success of current treatments and care. This study was conducted to assess the survival rate of cervical cancer in Asia.MethodsThis systematic survey was conducted on four international databases, including Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge, and includes manuscripts that were published until the end of August 2021. Selected keywords were searched for international databases including cervical neoplasms [mesh], survival analysis or survival or survival rate, Asian countries (name of countries). The Newcastle-Ottawa Qualitative Evaluation Form was used for cohort studies to evaluate the quality of the articles. The analysis process was performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the studies using the Cochran test and I2 statistics. Additionally, a meta-regression analysis was performed based on the year of the study.ResultsA total of 1956 articles were selected and reviewed based on their title. The results showed that 110 articles met the inclusion criteria. According to the randomized model, the 1, 3, 5, and 10-year survival rates of cervical cancer were 76.62% (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 72.91_80.34), 68.77% (95% CI, 64.32_73.21), 62.34% (95% CI, 58.10_66.59), and 61.60% (95% CI, 52.31_70.89), respectively. Additionally, based on the results of meta-regression analysis, there was an association between the year of the study and the survival rate, elucidating that the survival rate of cervical cancer has increased over the years.ConclusionsResults can provide the basic information needed for effective policy making, and development of public health programs for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer.

Medical and social characteristics of families assigned to family physicians in Javan district

Objective. The study seeks to explore the medical, social, and psycho-sociological characteristics of families within the population served by family doctors in the Yavan region.Materials and Methods. The study encompassed 450 patients under the care of general practitioners. The subjects were adult family members from various age groups, social standings, financial backgrounds, and health conditions, ensuring representative outcomes. Data was collected using a custom questionnaire comprised of 30 questions. This data was mathematically processed, and the findings are presented as indicators.Results and Discussion. The data revealed that the majority of surveyed patients primarily possess secondary or specialized secondary education. Men were more educated, with 44.7% holding a secondary specialized education or higher, while only 31.6% of women reported this level of education. Education levels appeared to influence family and marital statuses. As education levels rose, the number of children in families decreased (by 10.0%-15.0% in nuclear families and 5-7% in single-parent families). Conversely, the percentage of those married or in committed relationships increased with a rise in education, from 45.4% to 51.1%. A correlation analysis between respondents’ marital status, family type, and educational level indicated a weak relationship (r = 0.21 + 0.7 and 0.11 + 0.3, respectively). Conclusions. To enhance the accessibility of medical and social services for the community, it’s essential to address core challenges in the implementation of rural health development programs. This includes formulating a sound personnel policy and bolstering primary rural healthcare to tackle social issues. Additionally, establishing a regulatory and methodological structure is vital to guide family doctors serving in rural regions.

Power Kader Posyandu dalam Membangun Health Literacy Masyarakat

<p><em>Posyandu cadres as non-professional health workers under the supervision of the Community Health Center have an important role in building and developing health programs through health promotion. In carrying out health promotion, cadres need to plan effective communication strategies to influence and change people's behavior. This research seeks to identify the power used by cadres as a strategy in carrying out health promotion. This research is qualitative research using the case study method. Data collection was carried out using purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques at Posyandu Wijaya Kusuma, Banjararum Village, Singosari District, Malang Regency. Based on the data findings, cadres are seen as village health promoters whose task is to improve the welfare of the community by building their health literacy. Cadres carry out health promotion with approaches at the interpersonal and societal levels, power-over, and relational control. Through this strategy, cadres are able to build public health literacy at a critical literacy level.</em></p>

UC 4-H youth spread the facts — not the disease — during COVID-19

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for education in disease transmission and prevention. In response, the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program implemented a virtual epidemiology project, based on resources developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and collaborating agencies. The teenage participants were actively engaged in group lessons focused on epidemiology, immunology, vaccination, zoology, prevention strategies, related careers, and health communication. Surveys administered before and after the program showed an increase in knowledge about vaccinations and disease transmission and improved attitudes toward, and intentions to adopt, practices that reduce the spread of disease. They also showed increased self-efficacy and positive health behaviors (hand washing and mask use, and the intention to share what they learned in their communities). These findings contribute to the development of public health and epidemiological education programs for adolescents and programming that elevates youth as messengers of health information.

Effect of oral health on depression: an analysis of the 2021 Korea Community Health Survey

Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors related to oral health and depression in Korean adults and contribute to the development of a mental health program to improve depression through oral health management. Methods: Data was obtained from the 2021 Korean Community Health Survey. The chi-square test was used to determine the differences in depression experience relative to general participant characteristics and their oral health. To determine the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, multiple logistic regression analysis was used. All statistical analyses were performed using the SAS software (version 9.4). Results: The results suggest that depression may be influenced by gender, age, household generation, drinking habits, subjective health level, moderate to high exercise, breakfast, high blood pressure, diabetes, subjective oral health level, chewing discomfort, and tooth brushing. An increasing level of depression was associated with decreasing subjective oral health level (1.34 times), uncomfortable chewing (3.08 times), and frequency of toothbrushing after lunch or before going to bed (1.23 times and 1.58 times, respectively). Conclusions: Our study confirmed a close relationship between oral health and mental health. In developing health programs for improving depression, appropriate oral health care should be considered.

Components of hostility and discrimination in cardiology.

The Gender-Diverse (TGD) population in Mexico faces significant health challenges, such as limited access to healthcare and a prevalence of adverse conditions. Cardiology is crucial for this population due to a high prevalence of risk factors and cardiovascular diseases. Despite a lack of precise data, it is estimated that 0.5-1.5% of the population identifies as TGD. They encounter sociocultural challenges, including discrimination and stigma, contributing to health issues and a lack of treatment access. Cardiovascular risk factors, hormone self-administration, and barriers to healthcare access are prominent concerns. Opportunities for improvement involve strengthening medical education, implementing inclusive policies, and promoting research and data collection. The development of specific clinical guidelines and inclusive health programs is suggested. The theory of minority stress emphasizes addressing chronic psychosocial stressors and recognizing the influence of stress factors on health. Integrating healthcare services for all populations in cardiology and fostering resilience are key strategies. In summary, a comprehensive approach is needed to reduce disparities in cardiac care and enhance the health of all populations in Mexico.

Attitudes toward vaccination in the Croatian adult population

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized vaccine hesitancy as one of the major threats to global health. Attitudes toward vaccination are important predictors of vaccination behaviour. This study aimed to investigate attitudes toward vaccination and factors which influence them in the Croatian adult population. Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from June 2020 to December 2020 in the convenience sample of adults from Split-Dalmatia County in the primary healthcare setting. The Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale (VAX) was used to assess attitudes toward vaccination. The higher scores on the VAX scale reflect more negative attitudes toward vaccination. Results The study sample consisted of 632 subjects (52.7% males and 47.3% females). The median age of all subjects was 38.0 (interquartile range 29.0 - 48.0) years. The median VAX scale score was 42.0 (interquartile range 35.0-50.0). The more negative attitudes towards vaccination were found in females (p = 0.015), subjects aged 25-44 years (p = 0.026) and subjects living in suburban areas (p = 0.040). Conclusions The Croatian adult population displayed quite negative attitudes toward vaccination. The study showed that some sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age group and place of living had influenced attitudes towards vaccination in the studied population. Bearing in mind that attitudes are closely connected with the practices the development of public health programs created to promote vaccination should take into consideration the sociodemographic characteristics of the population for which they are intended. Key messages • It is highly important to improve attitudes towards vaccination in the Croatian adult population. • Understanding the factors that influence attitudes towards vaccination is crucial to design an appropriate public health program that promotes vaccination in selected population groups.

Prevalence and determinants of hypertension among older adults: A comparative analysis of the 6th and 8th national health surveys of Bangladesh.

Hypertension is a major public health concern in low-and middle-income countries. A nationwide Health, Population, and Nutrition Sector Development Program in Bangladesh has been shown to be effective in resource-poor settings. This article aims to investigate whether the prevalence and determinants of adult hypertension changed from 2011 to 2018. The determinants of adult hypertension were assessed in 2011 and 2018 data of Bangladesh Demographic and Health surveys. These two surveys included both men and women over the age of 34 years and measured their blood pressure, weight, height, and other covariates. For both surveys, we estimated the age-standard prevalence of hypertension and relative, attributable and mediated risk of determinants of hypertension using hierarchical mixed-effects sequential Poisson regression models. The prevalence of adult hypertension increased by 10.9% from 29.5% in 2011 to 40.4% in 2018. The nationwide awareness program on the Health, Population and Nutrition Sector changed the risks associated with hypertension determinants over the years. During 2011, Socio-economic status (SES) was a major distal determinant of adult hypertension, explaining 21% of population-attributable risk (ART). However, other factors accounted for 90% of risk, mainly by excessive body weight (51%) and awareness of hypertension (39%). In contrast, SES only explained 16% of ART risk, with 97% of the risk mediated by excessive body weight (55%) and awareness of hypertension (41%). The study results highlight that hypertension among older adult was significantly increased over the six-year period. Specially, the socio-economic status, awareness of hypertension and excessive body weight were the significant determinants. Being awareness of hypertension and excessive body weight changed the causal pathways of socio-economic status. The results also highlight the value of studying the effect of non-communicable disease awareness programs to enhance our comprehension of factors influencing health.

Predictors of Housing Trajectories Among Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles

Experiencing homelessness during young adulthood is associated with negative health outcomes and understanding housing trajectories of young adults experiencing homelessness may aid in the development of evidence-based public health programs designed to serve this at-risk age group. In the present study, the authors examined baseline predictors of 24-month trajectories of housing stability and unsheltered housing among a sample of 271 young adults aged 18 to 25 recruited from drop-in centers in Los Angeles. In multivariate models, the authors found that identifying as multi-racial/other and better friendship quality at baseline were associated with less steep increases in the likelihood of stable housing over time. Being employed at baseline was associated with a less steep decrease in the probability of being unsheltered over time, while illicit drug use days associated with a steeper decrease in the probability of being unsheltered over time. Continued research is needed to establish important factors determining young adults’ long-term housing trajectories in the effort to promote greater access and engagement with housing services.

Newborn Hearing Screening and Beyond: A Continuing Journey in the Philippines

Newborn Hearing Screening and Beyond: A Continuing Journey in the Philippines

Art for policy and policy for art

ABSTRACT The intersection of arts and public policy is three-dimensional. A multitude of direct subsidy, regulatory, and support programs are advocated and managed as “arts policy,” but a wide variety of non-arts-targeted realms such as tax law, public education, public health, and urban development and housing programs importantly influence artists and their encounters with their audiences. These interactions, and the complexity and thorniness born of the difficulty of clearly categorizing the arts as either market or non-market goods, as well as our difficulty in their valuation, make a particularly good area for teaching about public policy generally. And finally, policy of all kinds is too important to be made without the insights and guidance of artists, whose job is to show us the society we live in and who we are. Our “Arts and Cultural Policy” course explores this landscape for students in both fields.

COMPARISON BETWEEN VISUAL ASSESSMENT AND MEASUREMENT OF HEART GIRTH OR HIP-WIDTH TO ESTIMATE LIVE WEIGHT IN CROSSBRED BEEF HEIFERS

<p><strong>Background.</strong> Estimation of animal body weight (BW) is a fundamental tool in herd management for the development of reproductive, nutritional and health programmes. <strong>Objective.</strong> To compare the actual BW and its estimation by visual method and measurement of the heart girth (HG) or hip width (HW) for estimating BW in crossbred beef heifers reared under humid tropical conditions in Mexico. <strong>Methodology.</strong> Data on GH, HW, BW estimated by the visual method (MV) and actual BW were recorded in 105 crossbred replacement heifers (<em>Bos taurus × Bos indicus</em>) Swiss American, Beef Master, Simmental, and Brahman with different degrees of crossbreeding. Heifers ranged in age from three to 20 months and were grazed on star grass (<em>Cynodon nlemfuensis</em>) and humidicola grass (<em>Brachiaria humidicola</em>) pastures without supplementation. BW was recorded using a digital scale, HG was measured using a flexible fibreglass tape and HW was measured using a 65 cm forceps. BW by visual estimation was considered as the average of three observations made by three observers, HG and HW methods using the formula 1) BW (kg): 202.68 - 4.39 × HG + 0.03 × HG<sup>2</sup>; 2) BW (kg): 0.26 × HW<sup>1.90</sup>. The Pearson coefficient and the distribution (density) of each variable, were assessed using a correlation matrix graph. Also, a comparison the measures obtained by each of the different estimation methods with the observed weights, by inspecting the paired Bland-Altman plots, prior to logarithmic transformation. <strong>Results. </strong>Correlations between observed BW and predicted BW for the HG, HW and visual methods showed a positive and significant relationship (P<0.001), with r values of 0.95, 0.89 and 0.92, respectively. The HG method tended to overestimate the real BW, whereas, in the visual and HW methods, the values are evenly and randomly distributed around the line, indicating that these methods neither underestimated nor overestimated the BW. <strong>Implications. </strong>Although the HG method showed the highest correlation coefficient between observed and predicted BW, the result of the present study showed that visual assessment highlights the ability of observers to visually estimate the BW of growing heifers. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> Livestock handlers have a very accurate estimation of BW. The use of alternative methods to scales, such as the HG measuring method, can be useful and practical tools to improve the accuracy of the assessment. </p>

Evaluating a WeChat-Based Health Behavioral Digital Intervention for Patients With Hypertension: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hypertension is the most prevalent chronic condition and a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases. The efficacy of health behavioral interventions in blood pressure (BP) control has been demonstrated by a large and expanding body of literature, with "adherence" playing a crucial role. WeChat is the most common social communication mobile app in China, and it has been shown to be an acceptable delivery platform for delivering health interventions. The WeChat-based health behavioral digital intervention program (WHBDIP) showed high feasibility and efficacy. However, the results regarding BP improvement between the WHBDIP and control groups were inconsistent. The objective of this study is to develop a WHBDIP and assess its efficacy in controlling BP and improving adherence among patients with hypertension. A 2-arm, parallel-group, and randomized trial design was used. Patients older than 60 years and with hypertension were randomly assigned to either the control group or the experimental group, which received a 12-week intervention. The program, primarily developed based on the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) theory, offers health education on exercise, diet, BP monitoring, and medicine adherence (MA). It also includes other behavior interventions guided by an intervention manual, incorporating behavior change techniques (BCTs). The primary outcomes encompass BP and adherence indicators, while the secondary outcomes encompass cardiovascular function indicators, body composition indicators, learning performance, satisfaction, and acceptability. The exercise and blood pressure monitoring adherence (BPMA) indicators for the WHBDIP group were assessed weekly via WeChat during the initial 3 months, while other outcome data for both groups will be collected at the baseline assessment phase, 3 months after the intervention, and 1 year after the program. The trial will assess the efficacy of WHBDIP for patients with hypertension (N=68). The WHBDIP seeks to enhance participants' knowledge of healthy behaviors and assist patients in developing positive health behaviors to improve their health outcomes. Patient recruitment for individuals with hypertension commenced on September 5, 2022, and concluded on September 19, 2022. The 3-month intervention and phased data collection were finalized in January 2023. Data analysis will commence in August 2023, and the final 1-year health outcome results will be collected in September 2023. A successful WHBDIP will establish the management mode as a feasible approach for hypertension management in the community. Additionally, it will pave the way for the development of related mobile health programs. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200062643; https://tinyurl.com/mwyv67wk. PRR1-10.2196/46883.

O.2.3-2 How to effectively develop and modify workplace health programs: case studies in UK contact centers

Abstract Purpose Workplace health programs are often implemented to improve employee health, and subsequently business outcomes (e.g., reducing absence). However, they rarely consider the full range of complexity and variability of organizational factors. This can lead to poor implementation, effectiveness and sustainability. As such, innovative methods which facilitate the development or modification of health programs while considering an organization’s unique organizational culture barriers are needed. Contact center-based organizations in particular have several organizational barriers, which create highly sedentary environments with limited opportunities for physical activity engagement. This study aims to improve the development, implementation and effectiveness of workplace health programs in contact centers by identifying and addressing these barriers. Methods This study is underpinned by the Six Steps in Quality Intervention Development framework (6SQuID). 6SQuID emphasizes co-production with stakeholders which is important in ensuring interventions are acceptable and sustainable. Four workshops were conducted in two contact center-based UK organizations over seven months. The workshops, with management, aimed to accomplish the following in each organization: 1) define the problem (with wellbeing programs) and its causal factors (organizational culture barriers), and 2) co-produce theories of change, theories of action and an action plan to address the causal factors and solve the problem. Results Organization 1 (private sector, nursing services) defined their problem as: low focus on engagement and participation in wellbeing activities. Organization 2 (public sector, emergency services) defined their problem as: wellbeing programs lack proactivity, engagement and sustainability. Each organization developed an action plan to address the causal factors of their problem and initiate their theory of change pathways (desired short, medium and long-term outcomes). Activity examples included: sanctioning time for well-being program/behaviour participation (e.g., break-taking to reduce sitting) and improving program promotion. Conclusions This study provides learnings on how to facilitate more effective development (or modification) and implementation of workplace health programs (especially those related to sedentary behaviour, physical activity and mental health) by including management in identifying and addressing organizational culture barriers. Results have the potential for application to other organizations with desk-based workers. This study is part of a University of Edinburgh-funded PhD studentship.

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE HEALTH PROGRAMS

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE HEALTH PROGRAMS

Integrating knowledge and action: learnings from an implementation program for food security and food sovereignty with First Nations communities within Canada

BackgroundCollaborative approaches to knowledge translation (KT) are important for advancing community-engaged research. However, there is a need for examples of participatory approaches that have effectively supported public health research, program development, and implementation with First Nations communities. To strengthen KT with communities, we proposed a set of guiding principles for participatory planning and action for local food system change. Principles emerged from a cross-community analysis of Learning Circles: Local Healthy Food to School (LC:LHF2S) a participatory program (2015–2019) for Indigenous food system action. The objective was to identify guiding principles for participatory planning and action from key learnings and successes on scaling-up of the Learning Circles (LC) model vertically in Haida Nation, British Columbia (BC), and horizontally in three distinct community contexts: Gitxsan Nation, Hazelton /Upper Skeena, BC; Ministikwan Lake. The application of these principles is discussed in the context of our ongoing partnership with Williams Treaties First Nations to support community planning to enhance food security and sovereignty.MethodsA cross-community thematic analysis was conducted and guided by an implementation science framework, Foster-Fishman and Watson’s (2012) ABLe Change Framework, to identify key learnings and successes from adapting the LC approach. Information gathered from interviews (n = 55) and meeting reports (n = 37) was thematically analyzed to inform the development of guiding principles. Community sense-making of findings informed applicability in a new community context embarking on food systems work.ResultsEmergent guiding principles for participatory food system planning and action are described within four main areas: (1) create safe and ethical spaces for dialog by establishing trust and commitment from the ground up, (2) understand the context for change through community engagement, (3) foster relationships to strengthen and sustain impact, and (4) reflect and embrace program flexibility to integrate learnings.ConclusionsEmergent principles offer guidance to supporting Indigenous community-led research and mobilization of knowledge into action. Principles are intended to support researchers and health system administrators with taking a collaborative approach that fosters relationships and integration of community leadership, knowledge, and action for food system change. Application of principles with implementation frameworks can strengthen KT in Indigenous contexts by incorporating community protocols and perspectives in support of Indigenous self-determined priorities.

People with mental illness stigmatize mental illness less: A comparison study between a hospital-based sample of people with mental illness and a non-clinical general population sample in urban India.

Evidence shows that stigma negatively influences the quality of life of persons with severe mental illness. Nonetheless, stigma towards mental illness is lower among persons with a lived experience of mental illness compared to the rest of the population. Understanding the association between stigma of mental illness and the mental status of individuals living in urban India and whether this association is moderated by demographic factors opens a new avenue for prevention of social exclusion. Persons diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe unipolar depression (cases, n = 647) were recruited from among hospital patients in New Delhi between November 2011 and June 2012 and matched with non-psychiatric urban dwellers by age, sex, and location of residence (controls, n = 649). Propensity score matching with multivariable linear regression was used to test whether stigma towards mental illness, measured by a 13-item Stigma Questionnaire, differed between cases and controls. Cases reported significantly lower stigma scores than controls (b = -0.50, p < 0.0001). The strength of the association between mental illness and stigma was not affected after controlling for age, caste, sex, education, and employment status, while wealth marginally reduced the strength of the association. These findings suggest individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, in New Delhi, India, may be more tolerant towards mental illness and support the need to involve persons with lived experience in the development and implementation of health promotional campaigns and programs aimed at reducing stigma towards mental illness.

The Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Lebanese Mothers Toward Their Children's Oral Health: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Lebanese mothers toward their children's oral health, examine the association between the three variables, and identify their predictors. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to Lebanese mothers residing in Lebanon with children aged six months to 12 years between April and May 2022. The survey was administered to mothers from various geographical areas who presented to academic medical centers, private clinics, and dispensaries. The survey gathered sociodemographic data as well as assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the participating mothers toward their children's oral health. A total of 357 responses were included in the final analysis.The mean age of mothers was 32.67 years +/- 6.35. The majority of mothers had one or two children (35.8% and 37.5%, respectively). More than two-thirds of the mothers were unemployed. Only 13% of the mothers followed best practices for their children's dental health, while 48.6.2% possessed above-average knowledge and 88.9% had great attitudes. Mothers with a university education had higher knowledge, better attitudes, and practice scores than those with school-level education (elementary, high school). Employed mothers had a significantly better knowledge score (p=0.036) and practice score (p=0.043) than unemployed mothers. The decrease in the number of children was associated with an increase in the maternal knowledge score. An increase in the mother's age was associated with a higher knowledge score. The findings of this study suggest the need for targeted oral health education programs for Lebanese mothers to enhance their attitudes and practices toward their children's oral health. It highlights the importance of early oral health interventions and emphasizes the significant role of mothers in promoting good oral health practices for their children. Further research is needed on a larger scale to comprehensively understand these variables and inform the development of appropriate national oral health programs for children in Lebanon.

DESKRIPSI PENGETAHUAN DAN INDEKS DMF-T DALAM RANGKA PENCEGAHAN MASALAH KESEHATAN GIGI DAN MULUT PADA SISWA BINA TALENTA GRAHA HARAPAN INDAH BEKASI

The health of school students is part of the health development and prevention program by the Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia. Improvement of general health will affect oral health. Prevention of oral health problems for Bina Talenta Graha students ranged from DMF-TT intraoral examination, dental health education, pre-test and post-test 33questionnaires, and mass toothbrushing activities. 44 kindergarten and 227 elementary school students participated in the program. DMF-T index was categorized according to WHO, in which the index for kindergarten is medium (3.92), while for elementary school classes is very high (8.7). Caries in both classes were more prevalent in girls than boys. The average score for kindergarten was 97.89 (pre-test) and 95.95 (post-test), while that of elementary school was 69 (pre-test) and 66.50 (post-test). Statistical tests for pre- and post-test yielded p = 0.623. for kindergarten and p= 0.151 for primary school. As p&gt;0.05, there was no significant difference between pre- and-post tests for both groups. The decline in scores can be caused by short duration of dental health education, pre-, and post-tests. Environmental factors such as noise, visual disturbances, fatigue, and uncomfortable room conditions also played a role. By considering those factors, next activites can be planned and done more optimally