Using the Barrier Analysis Tool to identify determinants that influence dental hygiene: A case study (2012)

Undergraduate: Kumara Sundar

Faculty Advisor: Darcy Lear
Department: Business Administration

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The goal of this project was to use the Barrier Analysis Tool to identify the determinants that have been preventing 7-14 year olds in Nandaime, Nicaragua from brushing their teeth twice daily in order to increase their dental hygiene and prevent cavities. The Barrier Analysis Tool was used in the local public schools and clinics. My secondary goal was to teach the local “brigidistas” the Barrier Analysis Tool as well the approach of identifying why a given population is not doing/doing a behavior before implementing a health education program. After conducting 98 individual interviews and two focus groups, Perceived Susceptibility seems to be the most important barrier. 95% of students said they brushed their teeth though, so the reason for the high occurrence of cavities could be due to improper technique in brushing, inadequate time spent on brushing or improper care of primary teeth.