EFFECTIVENESS OF MODIFIED BASIC PACKAGE OF ORAL CARE ON ORAL HEALTH STATUS AND RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG ZAMBIAN ADOLESCENTS-: A RANDOMIZED FIELD TRIAL

BackgroundAbout 40 to 90% of adolescents in most Low to Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) are affected by dental caries and periodontal diseases. Most of the diseases remain untreated, thus impacting negatively the adolescents’ general health, well-being, and quality of life. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) the diseases accumulate in socially disadvantaged adolescents in situations where the available oral health systems and services are inadequate. The cost of treating dental caries with the curative approach alone exceeds the fiscal capabilities of most LMICs including Zambia. World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the Basic Package of Oral Care (BPOC) as a cost-effective preventive and curative approach for dental caries however, the strategy has never been tested and implemented in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, Zambia inclusive. This trial aim at assessing the effectiveness of the modified BPOC in improving oral health knowledge and related behaviors, oral health, and quality of life among Zambian Adolescents.