 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Holly Felix, MPA, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 5800 West 10th Street, Suite 410, Little Rock, AR 72204, 501-660-7553, Felixholly@uams.edu
Although great medical progress was made in the 20th Century in understanding, preventing and treating oral diseases, at the dawn of the 21st Century, many Americans -- often the most vulnerable -- do not enjoy good oral health. Today, dental caries is the single most common chronic childhood disease and dental care the most prevalent unmet health need of US children. Unfortunately, dental services available through Medicaid are being cut in light of state budget shortfalls. Effective and cost saving public health measures, specifically fluoridation of community water systems, are not being adequately utilized to address this “silent epidemic.” This paper will describe both the extent community water fluoridation use in the US and AR, document reasons it is often opposed. Drawing on public policy theories and literature on agenda setting, this presentation aims to describe three different strategies that could be use by public health professionals to bring community water fluoridation to a state-level formal agenda. Advantages and disadvantages to using these strategies for agenda building on this issue will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.