Validation Study of Community Health Workers
Assessment of Oral Hygiene

GEETHA LOGANATHAN, RAVIKUMAR CHOCKALINGAM

IKP Centre for Technologies in Public Health (ICTPH)

Profile

ICTPH (www.ictph.org.in) is a Section-25, not-for-profit Company; registered under the Companies Act, 1956. ICTPH aims to improve the health of poor populations by focusing on designing, developing and delivering innovative solutions in healthcare concerning India and the developing world. This is achieved through an inclusive process that scientifically integrates knowledge of factors influencing health and diseases in India, regular evaluation and impact assessment of existing health systems and integration of appropriate technology for optimal healthcare delivery. ICTPH aims to research provisioning enhanced accessibility to health-care services for rural populations through a three pronged focus on Epidemiology, Human Capacity and Healthcare Solutions.

ICTPH Role

ICTPH had conducted a baseline study of 3 villages in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu which consisted of an extensive household survey and a study of different variables using invasive and non-invasive methods. Karambayam was one of the three villages surveyed in Thanjavur.

Karambayam belongs to the Pattukottai Taluk in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The population of Karambayam figures a little more than 3600 people with 907 households.

ICTPH has mobilized 20 volunteers from the community as CHWs 14 (ICTPH – Nala Oli) 15; most of them involved in self help groups. They have been undergoing training for preventive and promotive healthcare to collecting information about the community on health related problems in the region as facilitated by the CHW training team at ICTPH.

ICTPH primary objective is to make a strong case to show the potential of CHWs in identifying manifestations of poor oral hygiene such as plaque, dental caries and gingivitis and to study the impact of CHWs in improving oral hygiene in the community.

14 "Community Health Worker"     (Continue reading)

15 Nala Oli means “ Health Light.” The term was coined by ICTPH - CHW training team.     (Continue reading)

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