Oral Health of Indigenous People of Challhuahuacho-Apurimac, Peru

Quechua indigenous people of Challhuahuacho- Apurimac, Peru, seem to have worse oral health (dental caries and periodontal diseases) and less access to dental care facilities than the general population in the country. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to analyse the oral health seeking behavior of Quechua indigenous people and oral health programmes carried out in indigenous population around the world and in other communities with similar background in order to make recommendations for a sustainable oral health programme for Quechua communities to improve their oral health status and to increase access to oral health services. The Andersen''s behavioural model modified by the International Collaborative study for oral health outcomes and by the author of this work is used. Each oral health programme is also analysed using the criteria to assess the quality of oral health strategies stipulated by WHO. This text should be useful to Oral Health Professionals and Researchers in the area willing to study Health in Indigenous communities and to propose strategies to overcome the burden of dental diseases in the target group.