A community participatory oral health promotion program in an inner-city Latino community.

OBJECTIVES: This paper reports the planning, implementation, process evaluation, and refinement of an oral health community participatory project in Mount Pleasant, an inner-city Latino neighborhood of Washington, DC. The main goal was to explore the feasibility of implementing such a project.
METHODS: The PRECEDE-PROCEED model was used to guide the planning and process evaluation of this project, in conjunction with community organizational methods. A steering committee, which met periodically, was formed to assist in program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The needs assessment of the community identified extensive dental health problems among children and deficiencies in their parents' oral health knowledge, opinions, and practices. In response, culturally appropriate health education and promotion activities were planned and implemented in collaboration with local community organizations, volunteers, and local practitioners. Process evaluation was used to provide feedback into the refinement of the community approach, which included record keeping and an inventory approach to activities completed and resources used. The overall impact and usefulness of this program were assessed informally using an anonymous open-ended questionnaire directed to members of the steering committee, and an outreach survey using a convenience sample at a local Latino health fair.
RESULTS: The implementation of such a community participatory approach was feasible and useful for building upon existing local resources and addressing oral health concerns in a community not reached by traditional dental care and health promotion initiatives. Individuals in this community showed a substantial interest in oral health matters and participated in a variety of oral health prevention activities. The community approach adhered to community-based research principles.