The effectiveness of the integrated UKGS–UKGM Programme based on community leader empowerment for improving oral health in the City of Parepare

Efektivitas integrasi Program UKGS–UKGM terpadu berbasis pemberdayaan kader untuk peningkatan kesehatan gigi dan mulut di Kota Parepare

Abstract

The School Dental Health Programme (SDHP) and Community Dental Health Programme (CDHP) have long been implemented in Indonesia; however, their im-plementation remains fragmented, meaning their impact has not yet been optimal. This community service project evaluates the effectiveness of integrating the UKGS and UKGM in improving knowledge, attitudes, behaviour, and oral hygiene status in the city of Parepare. The method used was a one-group pretest–post-test design involving 20 primary school pupils, 7 posyandu cadres, and 30 posyandu participants. The intervention was carried out through interactive education, mass toothbrushing training, clinical examinations using the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), and the empowerment of posyandu cadres as health promo-motion agents. Data analysis was performed using a paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation test. The results showed a significant improvement in knowledge (pupils: 65.2%; cadres: 58.7%), attitudes, and oral health behaviour (p<0.001), accompanied by an improvement in the OHI-S from the moderate category to the good category in all groups (p<0.001). Changes in oral health behaviour were strongly correlated with improvements in OHI-S scores (r=?0.72 among students and r= ?0.68 among the community). It was concluded that the UKGS–UKGM integration model based on volunteer empowerment proved effective as a sustainable and replicable promotive-preventive model.