Biomaterial Database

Primary health care approach. Its relevance to oral health in Nigeria. 2002

E Ndiokwelu

Department of Preventive Dentistry College of Medicine-Enugu Campus, Nigeria.

This article discusses the concept of Primary Health Care--an idea which started with the World Health Assembly agreement in 1977 to work resolutely towards the goal of Health for All. This decision was followed by the historic international conference on Primary Health Care at Alma Ata in 1978. Many countries including Nigeria, adopted the primary health care strategy to achieve health for all by the year 2000 (now 2000 and beyond). Since health needs to be seen and dealt with in a holistic manner, oral health is an integral part of health. Strategies for achieving health for all implicitly and must of necessity involve oral health. This article has tried to show the relevance of the strategy of primary health care to oral health. It concludes that primary health care approach is very relevant to oral health in Nigeria.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009549	Nigeria	A republic in western Africa, south of NIGER between BENIN and CAMEROON. Its capital is Abuja.	Federal Republic of Nigeria
D009909	Oral Health	The optimal state of the mouth and normal functioning of the organs of the mouth without evidence of disease.	Health, Oral
D010510	Periodontal Diseases	Pathological processes involving the PERIODONTIUM including the gum (GINGIVA), the alveolar bone (ALVEOLAR PROCESS), the DENTAL CEMENTUM, and the PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT.	Parodontosis,Pyorrhea Alveolaris,Disease, Periodontal,Diseases, Periodontal,Parodontoses,Periodontal Disease
D011320	Primary Health Care	Care which provides integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. (JAMA 1995;273(3):192)	Primary Care,Primary Healthcare,Care, Primary,Care, Primary Health,Health Care, Primary,Healthcare, Primary
D003149	Community Dentistry	The practice of dentistry concerned with preventive as well as diagnostic and treatment programs in a circumscribed population.	Dentistry, Community
D003731	Dental Caries	Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.	Caries, Dental,Carious Lesions,Dental Cavities,Dental Cavity,Dental Decay,Dental White Spots,Carious Dentin,Decay, Dental,Dental White Spot,White Spot, Dental,White Spots, Dental,Carious Dentins,Carious Lesion,Cavities, Dental,Cavity, Dental,Dentin, Carious,Dentins, Carious,Lesion, Carious,Lesions, Carious,Spot, Dental White,Spots, Dental White
D003748	Dental Equipment	The nonexpendable items used by the dentist or dental staff in the performance of professional duties. (From Boucher's Clinical Dental Terminology, 4th ed, p106)	Equipment, Dental,Dental Equipments,Equipments, Dental
D003752	Dental Health Services	Services designed to promote, maintain, or restore dental health.	Health Services, Dental,Services, Dental Health,Dental Health Service,Health Service, Dental,Service, Dental Health
D003906	Developing Countries	Countries in the process of change with economic growth, that is, an increase in production, per capita consumption, and income. The process of economic growth involves better utilization of natural and human resources, which results in a change in the social, political, and economic structures.	LMICs,Less-Developed Countries,Low Income Countries,Low and Middle Income Countries,Lower-Middle-Income Country,Middle Income Countries,Third-World Countries,Under-Developed Countries,Developing Nations,Least Developed Countries,Less-Developed Nations,Third-World Nations,Under-Developed Nations,Countries, Middle Income,Countries, Third-World,Country, Least Developed,Country, Less-Developed,Country, Low Income,Country, Lower-Middle-Income,Country, Middle Income,Country, Third-World,Country, Under-Developed,Developed Country, Least,Developing Country,Developing Nation,Least Developed Country,Less Developed Countries,Less Developed Nations,Less-Developed Country,Less-Developed Nation,Low Income Country,Lower Middle Income Country,Lower-Middle-Income Countries,Middle Income Country,Nation, Less-Developed,Nation, Third-World,Nation, Under-Developed,Third World Countries,Third World Nations,Third-World Country,Third-World Nation,Under Developed Countries,Under Developed Nations,Under-Developed Country,Under-Developed Nation
D006297	Health Services Accessibility	The degree to which individuals are inhibited or facilitated in their ability to gain entry to and to receive care and services from the health care system. Factors influencing this ability include geographic, architectural, transportational, and financial considerations, among others.	Access To Care, Health,Access to Care,Access to Contraception,Access to Health Care,Access to Health Services,Access to Medications,Access to Medicines,Access to Therapy,Access to Treatment,Accessibility of Health Services,Availability of Health Services,Contraception Access,Contraceptive Access,Medication Access,Accessibility, Health Services,Contraceptive Availability,Health Services Geographic Accessibility,Program Accessibility,Access to Cares,Access to Contraceptions,Access to Medication,Access to Medicine,Access to Therapies,Access to Treatments,Access, Contraception,Access, Contraceptive,Access, Medication,Accessibilities, Health Services,Accessibility, Program,Availability, Contraceptive,Care, Access to,Cares, Access to,Contraception, Access to,Contraceptive Accesses,Health Services Availability,Medication Accesses,Medication, Access to,Medicine, Access to,Medicines, Access to,Therapy, Access to,Treatment, Access to