A comparative policy analysis of oral health policies in Latin America to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2020Background: Oral diseases continue to be a global public health problem, with more than 3·5 billion people affected. With the COVID-19 pandemic declaration, dental services have been severely disrupted. This unprecedented situation has forced organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), American Dental Association (ADA), and Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) to develop protocols and guidelines[8] to improve and ensure the reduction of risks for dental health care personnel (DHCP) and to protect the patients in need of emergency treatment or urgent dental care. [8-10]. Ministries of Health and local dental organizations have also created policies for reopening dental services. [14] In Latin America, dental health professionals face new challenges to provide treatment and care. This study aims to describe and compare the policies from Latin America providing guidelines to dental services during COVID-19. The aims of the analysis were to 1) describe and compare the policies to manage the reopening of dental services; 2) identify specific differences in the policies to respond during the COVID-19 pandemic in countries with a high incidence of COVID-19 in Latin America, and 3) identify which international guidelines or pre-existing policies influenced the development of policies in the countries described. Methods: We conducted the comparative and descriptive policy analysis of dental policies for the reopening of dental settings during the COVID-19 pandemic, including online searches of dental policies in countries with a high incidence of COVID-19 cases in Latin America, published from March 1st to July 31st of 2020, with free online access. The countries included in this research were: Brazil, Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. We used the WHO’s interim guidance Considerations for the provision of essential oral health services in the context of COVID-19 to develop a policy taxonomy for COVID-19 prevention policies for dental services comprising five domains. Results: Findings from the research showed some key similarities and differences between the five countries' policies from South America. Overall, these policies provide appropriate guidance to reduce infection risk to DHCP and to protect the patients in need of emergency services. More research to assess the implementation and effectiveness of these dental polices is necessary