Development of Oral Health Promotion Model for Preschool children through family and community involvement in Child Development Centers Muang District, Sukhothai Province.

Abstract

     This action research aimed to develop and assess an oral health promotion model for preschool children through family and community involvement at child development centers in Mueang District, Sukhothai. A total of 256 participants were purposively selected. The model was developed in four phases: 1) identifying dental caries issues, 2) designing the intervention, 3) implementing it with family and community support, and 4) evaluating its impact at three centers. Data collection included dental assessments, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews, analyzed using the paired sample t-test.

     The findings revealed a slight decrease in the average number of dental caries, although the reduction was not statistically significant. However, the amount of dental plaque significantly decreased (p=0.003). Additionally, the average scores for parental knowledge, awareness, and behavior in caring for their children's oral health significantly improved (p<0.001).