ANALYSIS OF STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE ORAL HEALTH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the stomatological health promotion experiences used in Mexico and some Latin American countries, to recognize the scope obtained in the health education exercises and to establish the challenges in health promotion interventions with a focus on socioformation. A documentary analysis was carried out which included scientific articles and official pages of the secretariats and ministries of health of Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela were analyzed. Governance, health education and the construction of healthy cities were identified as health promotion strategies. Regarding governance, Argentina, Brazil and Cuba were identified as countries that have improved the profile of stomatological health thanks to the adopted policies. In health education, there was a low production of scientific evidence in most countries except Cuba; The production of evidence is strongly related to the development of techniques and increase of knowledge, we did not identify experiences of multidisciplinary work nor of exercises that relate from the stomatological health to the general health. The reported health education experiences do not contribute to the creation of healthy cities. The socialization of health promotion experiences shows the situation of this process in the countries; these jobs should articulate governance, health education and healthy cities; The socioformation is an approach that allows health promotion to achieve this articulation by integrating collaborative work as part of the citizens' ethical life project.

Keywords

• health education
• health policy
• oral health
• public health
• socioformative approach.