Developing Global Oral Health Research Through Meaningful Community Engagement

Objectives: The global burden of oral diseases and shocking inequalities in oral health highlight the abject failure of current oral health systems to effectively prevent and control oral diseases. One of the key limitations with existing approaches is that they rely almost exclusively on professional views with minimal or no input from communities and in particular disadvantaged populations. The CORE programme is being conducted in four countries (Brazil, India, Colombia and Kenya) with three overarching work packages: oral health inequalities; commercial determinants; and oral health system reform. An innovative element of the programme is that all the planned research will be informed by meaningful community engagement. This study aims to identify insights gained from the initial community mapping exercises that were conducted in each country.

Methods: To better understand the nature, characteristics and expectations/experiences of local communities, team members gathered information from a diverse range of sources and also undertook community visits to discuss issues with community representatives. The gathered information was then compiled and assessed through the completion of a structured data form.

Results: Key insights gained from the community mapping included: need to carefully define meaning of ‘community’; importance of developing trust, mutual respect and building relationships with communities; understanding community dynamics and the role of gatekeepers; and ethical issues in relation to not raising unobtainable expectations. Future community engagement activities will include establishment of community forums, appointment of community link workers, arranging regular community outreach activities including visual and performing arts events, and development of a community engagement toolkit based upon the experiences gained in the CORE programme.

Conclusion: Through a process of community engagement, empowerment and co-production, the views and experiences of community members and community groups will be central in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the planned research activities, and in particular intervention development.