Essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in Africa
Oral health remains a critical yet often overlooked aspect of overall health in Africa, where a significant burden of oral diseases is evident. The integration of community health workers (CHWs) into oral health promotion strategies presents a unique opportunity to address both human resource and ed...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
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| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/782 |
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| author | Morenike O. Folayan Ahmed Bhayat Nicaise Ndembi Adeyinka G. Ishola Maha El Tantawi |
| author_facet | Morenike O. Folayan Ahmed Bhayat Nicaise Ndembi Adeyinka G. Ishola Maha El Tantawi |
| author_sort | Morenike O. Folayan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Oral health remains a critical yet often overlooked aspect of overall health in Africa, where a significant burden of oral diseases is evident. The integration of community health workers (CHWs) into oral health promotion strategies presents a unique opportunity to address both human resource and educational challenges, particularly in underserved communities. This study explores the pivotal role CHWs can play in enhancing oral health outcomes across various African contexts. By providing basic dental care, education and facilitating access to professional services, CHWs contribute to the prevention and early detection of oral diseases. The research draws on case studies, programme evaluations and field reports to highlight the effectiveness of CHW-led initiatives. The findings underscored the need for increased investment in CHW training and support as a sustainable approach to improving oral health in Africa. It highlights the role of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in promoting oral health in the mandate of CHWs, identifies the challenges it may face in playing this role and proffers solutions including promoting the development of oral health policies and plans by the Africa Union Member States as a critical first and feasible step. The study concludes by identifying the need for a comprehensive assessment of the status of integration of oral health into CHW programmes in Africa to help the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention identify gaps for strategic actions. This article offers the first comprehensive exploration of the potential for formally integrating CHWs into oral health promotion strategies across Africa. By mapping existing interventions, evaluating their effectiveness, and identifying policy and structural challenges, the study provides critical insights into how CHWs can bridge gaps in access to oral healthcare, particularly in underserved populations. It highlights the strategic role of the Africa CDC in advancing oral health through CHW-led initiatives and calls for standardised training, policy support, and system integration. The article aligns with the Journal of Public Health in Africa’s scope by addressing health systems strengthening and universal health coverage in the African context through an underutilised yet scalable workforce. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-238ae54e8c5a44378c6a701ae2ba0e55 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-238ae54e8c5a44378c6a701ae2ba0e552025-08-20T03:07:34ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302025-06-01161e1e710.4102/jphia.v16i1.782875Essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in AfricaMorenike O. Folayan0Ahmed Bhayat1Nicaise Ndembi2Adeyinka G. Ishola3Maha El Tantawi4Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-IfeDepartment of Community Dentistry, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDirector General’s Office, International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Africa Regional Office, Kigali, Rwanda Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, BaltimoreAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing Sciences, University of Ilesa, IlesaDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, AlexandriaOral health remains a critical yet often overlooked aspect of overall health in Africa, where a significant burden of oral diseases is evident. The integration of community health workers (CHWs) into oral health promotion strategies presents a unique opportunity to address both human resource and educational challenges, particularly in underserved communities. This study explores the pivotal role CHWs can play in enhancing oral health outcomes across various African contexts. By providing basic dental care, education and facilitating access to professional services, CHWs contribute to the prevention and early detection of oral diseases. The research draws on case studies, programme evaluations and field reports to highlight the effectiveness of CHW-led initiatives. The findings underscored the need for increased investment in CHW training and support as a sustainable approach to improving oral health in Africa. It highlights the role of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in promoting oral health in the mandate of CHWs, identifies the challenges it may face in playing this role and proffers solutions including promoting the development of oral health policies and plans by the Africa Union Member States as a critical first and feasible step. The study concludes by identifying the need for a comprehensive assessment of the status of integration of oral health into CHW programmes in Africa to help the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention identify gaps for strategic actions. This article offers the first comprehensive exploration of the potential for formally integrating CHWs into oral health promotion strategies across Africa. By mapping existing interventions, evaluating their effectiveness, and identifying policy and structural challenges, the study provides critical insights into how CHWs can bridge gaps in access to oral healthcare, particularly in underserved populations. It highlights the strategic role of the Africa CDC in advancing oral health through CHW-led initiatives and calls for standardised training, policy support, and system integration. The article aligns with the Journal of Public Health in Africa’s scope by addressing health systems strengthening and universal health coverage in the African context through an underutilised yet scalable workforce.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/782health promotionrural communitiespublic healtheducation and awarenesshealth systemspreventive careaccess to caretraining and capacity-buildingintegration into health systemssustainable health practices |
| spellingShingle | Morenike O. Folayan Ahmed Bhayat Nicaise Ndembi Adeyinka G. Ishola Maha El Tantawi Essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in Africa Journal of Public Health in Africa health promotion rural communities public health education and awareness health systems preventive care access to care training and capacity-building integration into health systems sustainable health practices |
| title | Essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in Africa |
| title_full | Essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in Africa |
| title_short | Essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in Africa |
| title_sort | essential role of community health workers in promoting oral health in africa |
| topic | health promotion rural communities public health education and awareness health systems preventive care access to care training and capacity-building integration into health systems sustainable health practices |
| url | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/782 |
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