Factors associated with knowledge of community health workers about oral health

Abstract Background It is important that the community health workers (CHW) have enough knowledge to conduct educational practices and adequate referral of users, thus collaborating to address the health problems of the population. Objective In this context, the objective of this study was to analyze the factors associated with knowledge of CHW about oral health. Method This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 255 CHW in the municipality of Jequié, Bahia state, Brazil. Two questionnaires were applied to CHW for sociodemographic and occupational characterization and evaluation of knowledge about oral health. Magnitude of association was assessed by prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval. Results Low level of knowledge about oral health proved to be directly associated with male gender, lower education, longer service life as CHW, and absence of a dentist in the staff of the health care unit. Conclusion The findings of this study provide new knowledge to be considered by managers and professionals responsible for the education in oral health of CHW, especially by highlighting the positive impact that the presence of a dentist in the health team may have on the expansion of this knowledge.

摘要 背景：社区卫生工作者（Community Health Workers, CHW）需具备充足知识以开展健康教育实践，并为服务对象提供规范转诊，从而助力解决人群健康问题，这一点至关重要。目的：在此背景下，本研究旨在分析与社区卫生工作者口腔健康知识相关的影响因素。方法：本研究为横断面研究，在巴西巴伊亚州热基耶市的255名社区卫生工作者中开展。研究采用两份问卷，分别用于收集社区卫生工作者的社会人口学与职业特征信息，并评估其口腔健康知识水平。关联强度通过患病率比（prevalence ratio）及95%置信区间（confidence interval）进行评估。结果：口腔健康知识水平较低与男性性别、受教育程度偏低、担任社区卫生工作者的从业年限更长，以及卫生保健机构无牙医坐诊均呈直接正相关。结论：本研究结果为负责社区卫生工作者口腔健康教育培训的管理者与从业者提供了新的参考依据，尤其强调了卫生团队配备牙医对提升社区卫生工作者口腔健康知识水平的积极作用。