Building oral health research infrastructure: the first national oral health survey of Rwanda

What is it about?

Rwanda is challenged by a high burden of oral diseases. In addition to improving oral health research capacity and providing national oral health baseline data, the first National Oral Health Survey of Rwanda created a database of oral health information that can be analyzed to provide critically valuable information for the development of effective oral health education, prevention and disease management strategies as well as oral health workforce and infrastructure development. This is essential to formulate and implement data driven policies as well as support future research efforts for oral health improvement.

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Why is it important?

Rwanda, disproportionately affected by oral diseases and oral health workforce shortages, lacked oral health data and surveillance to inform strategies to address these challenges. Prior to this survey, no national oral health data were available. Through international collaboration, infrastructure and a replicable cost-effective study design were developed to build research capacity. The first national oral health survey was implemented and findings can inform future evidenced based policies, workforce development and methodologies suitable oral health surveillance.