The innovative strategies used to mobilize communities include the role of partnerships and communications, community consultation, and participation and principles of social marketing. The fluoridation promotion strategies used in NSW are currently being evaluated by the Centre for Health Services Research, University of Sydney, and would be a useful resource document for future fluoridation projects in other rural areas in NSW, Australia, and internationally. Preliminary findings from this evaluation will be presented today at the 84th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research. Councillors were more likely to support water fluoridation if they were made aware of the poorer oral health in their community, if water fluoridation was framed as a public health issue, if there was strong and united support for fluoridation by the health professionals, and following the paths of most Councils in NSW.
This is a summary of abstract #1193, "Reasons Councillors Voted For or Against Water Fluoridation," by L.T.T. Trinh, S. Sivaneswaran, G. Rubin, and M. Piza (University of Sydney, Sydney West Areas Health Services, New South Wales Health, Australia), to be presented at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2006, in Exhibit Hall 1 of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, during the 84th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research.
Journal of Dental Research