Vol. 2012 No. 1 (2012)

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Quality Dental Care in Rural Ghana: An Action Research Study on Primary Healthcare Clinics

Boahene Effiong, Department of Internal Medicine, Food Research Institute (FRI) Amartey Kwamena, Department of Clinical Research, Ashesi University Kwesi Afari, Ashesi University Yakubu Amofa, Ashesi University
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18943559
Published: September 14, 2012

Abstract

Rural primary healthcare clinics in northern Ghana often lack adequate dental care services, leading to poor oral health outcomes among local populations. A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys was employed to assess clinic practices, staff training needs, and patient feedback. Data were analysed using thematic analysis for qualitative data and descriptive statistics for quantitative results. Patient satisfaction scores improved by 20% following the implementation of evidence-based treatment protocols, while 65% of patients reported reduced dental treatment costs as a result of streamlined service delivery. The study demonstrated that targeted interventions can significantly enhance the quality and accessibility of dental care in rural settings. Future research should explore scalability and sustainability of these improvements. Primary healthcare clinics should prioritise continuous professional development for dental staff, integrate cost-saving measures into their operations, and engage with community health organizations to promote oral hygiene education. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.

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How to Cite

Boahene Effiong, Amartey Kwamena, Kwesi Afari, Yakubu Amofa (2012). Quality Dental Care in Rural Ghana: An Action Research Study on Primary Healthcare Clinics. African Dentistry Journal, Vol. 2012 No. 1 (2012). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18943559

Keywords

AfricanGhanaianParticipatoryActionResearchOralHealth

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Vol. 2012 No. 1 (2012)
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African Dentistry Journal

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