Open AccessA Review of the South African National Oral Health Policy
Author(s) -
Ntsakisi Mukhari-Baloyi,
Ahmed Bhayat,
Thomas Khomotjo Madiba,
Ntombizodwa Rosemary Nkambule
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sadj
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2519-0105
pISSN - 1029-4864
DOI - 10.17159/2519-0105/2021/v76no9a6
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , health policy , health promotion , population , promotion (chess) , medicine , psychological intervention , strengths and weaknesses , national policy , oral health , environmental health , sustainability , business , economic growth , political science , public health , nursing , psychology , family medicine , geography , economics , politics , social psychology , archaeology , international trade , law , ecology , biology
Advocacy for oral health promotion, prevention and treatment of oral diseases is founded on a comprehensive oral health policy that is integrated into the South African National Health Policy. The policy is intended to be a roadmap in the pursuit of achieving optimum oral health for the South African population. To review the National Oral Health Policy of SA (NOHPSA) in terms of context, strengths, weaknesses, implementation and monitoring regarding the oral health status of the SouthAfrican population.Results Promotive and preventive services lack detail on activities to achieve goals. The objectives, although very well defined, cannot be measured and there is no way of knowing whether they have been achieved. It was evident that the policy needs to be reviewed and updated in accordance to recent survey data, population growth and the profile (number and types) of health service providers. The prospect of updating the policy relies on the availability of current epidemiological surveys, which are not available, the most recent survey was conducted in 2002. The policy lacks a monitoring and evaluation plan. This is critical not only for the assessment of actualisation of aims and objectives, but for the sustainability of intended interventions.