IRHDR in the Community
CHHS Belize Service Learning Project, by Bonny Petty, RDH
Dental assistants from the Central Health Region of Belize, Central America have undergone in-house professional development training from the IRHDR dental team. In January 2011, Dr. Daniel Carter, dental director and Bonny Petty, supervising dental hygienist, conducted a one day continuing education course while participating in the CHHS service learning project in Belize. Dr. Raphael Samos, the Senior Dental Surgeon for the Central Health Region says “the idea is to promote a lifestyle that will reduce dental decay and associated health challenges”. A total of 22 dental professionals from Belize took part in the workshop and training session
In addition, the IRHDR donated two portable dental units and related supplies to the growing dental program offered by the Ministry of Health in Belize. An official release says that the donation of the dental units and supplies will enhance the department and its commitment to fight cavities by way of alternative restorative treatment for the citizens of Belize. The two groups plan on future collaborations as part of the IRHDR involvement in the CHHS service learning project in Belize.
Preventative Dental Services Offered on the MDU, by Lynn Austin, Ph.D.
Dental caries affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease. Left untreated, tooth decay causes pain and infections that may lead to problems including difficulties in eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Perhaps underscoring access to care as a major concern, the incidence of dental caries is greater in rural communities.
To help address these issues, 1st and 2nd year students enrolled in WKU’s Program of Dental Hygiene provide much-needed oral health services while on the Mobile Dental Health Unit. Under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Carter and Dental Hygienist Bonny Petty, students provide sealants and oral prophylaxes to individuals in the South Central Kentucky area. Primarily focused on children from rural areas, this partnership has both improved access to care for individuals from surrounding communities as well as provided an opportunity for students to affect change in the oral health status of others.
Primarily, dental hygiene students place sealants on the teeth of children in the 2nd and 7th grades. This age group is targeted to coincide with the eruption of molars so that sealant material can be placed on a newly-erupted tooth; an intact sealant is synonymous with a decay-free tooth. In 2010, more than 1,800 individuals were seen on Western Kentucky University’s Mobile Dental Health Unit. Specific services provided by dental hygiene students are depicted below.
Growing Partnerships with Farmers to Increase Immunizations, by Eve Main, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC and Susan Jones, Ph.D.
In a joint project, professional staff from the Institute for Rural Health Development and Research (IRHDR) and faculty members from the School of Nursing at Western Kentucky University (WKU) partnered with diverse agricultural groups to provide access to tetanus immunization for farmers. Clostridium tetani, found in the soil can enter the body through cuts, abrasions, burns, and puncture wounds and cause a serious and sometimes fatal disease. This project targeted farmers who are at a greater risk for tetanus when compared to other US workers.
These community-based partnerships were formed in ten south central Kentucky counties with Farm Bureau, Southern States, Cattlemen organizations, and the Kentucky Partnership for Farm Family and Safety, Inc. The immunization events coincided with planned meetings by the agricultural groups. Staff from the IRHDR included Beth Whitfield and WKU nursing faculty included Drs Eve Main and Susan Jones. A contact person from the agricultural agency/organization served as the liaison between the WKU personnel and the farmers. The liaison’s specific role included advertisement and recruitment of farmers for the immunization event.
Upon arrival at the event, each farmer was asked to complete a short questionnaire requesting their demographics (age, last TD immunization, type farming), perceived risk for tetanus, and their interest in receiving the tetanus immunization. Over 300 adult farmers from ten counties were immunized. Approximately 83.6% of the sample either reported no tetanus shot in the last 10 years or did not know their tetanus status. The activities that the farmers perceived as high risk for tetanus included all farming activities, fencing, working with livestock, tobacco, and machinery repair but they did not include exposure to soil or animal manure as a high risk exposure factor.
The project evaluation indicates the tetanus immunization rate among the participating farmers was increased as a result of this collaborative, community-based intervention. This project also facilitated community agencies/organizations and WKU in meeting their goals of promoting the health of their rural constituents. Following evaluation, the project staff recommended the development of a tool to capture last tetanus immunization, the replication of this program in work sites, and a campaign to increase awareness of tetanus and its etiology.
