Marković Dejana 
, Matović Marinab, Xhajanka Editc, Zukanović Amilad, Syngelakis Aristomenise, Charalambous Chrystalaf, Tsantidou Mariag, Gjorgievska Elizabetah, Getova Biljanai, Perlea Paulaj, Kilibarda Biljanak , Ece Edenl, Kargul Betulm, Perić Tamaraa
aUniverzitet u Beogradu, Stomatološki fakultet, Klinika za dečiju i preventivnu stomatologiju, Srbija
bCommunity Health Centre “Dr. Simo Milosevic”, Belgrade
cUniversity of Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Tirana, Albania
dUniverzitet u Sarajevu, Stomatološki fakultet sa klinikama, Bosna i Hercegovina
eChief Dental Officer, Greece + National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, Athens, Greece + European University Cyprus, School of Dentistry, Nicosia, Cyprus
fEuropean University Cyprus, School of Dentistry, Nicosia, Cyprus
gPanhellenic Union of Public Health Physicians, Greece + Dep. Chief Dental Officer, Greece
hUniversity “Ss. Cyril and Methodius”, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Skopje, North Macedonia
iHealth canter “Zdravje”, Valandovo, North Macedonia
jCarol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics, Bucharest, Romania
kInstitut za javno zdravlje Srbije ‘Dr Milan Jovanović Batut’, Beograd, Srbija
lEge University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Izmir, Turkey
mMarmara University, Dental School, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract
Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the national oral health programmes in the Balkan countries, to compare key measures and activities in the implementation of the general and specific objectives of the programme, and to analyse the results achieved after the implementation of the programme. Material and Methods: The data were obtained through an electronic search of publicly available documents published by the relevant institutions in the field of dental health care in the Balkan countries. The search terms were: “national programme”, “strategy”, “action plan”, “project”, and “oral health”. The search was conducted in English and in the native languages of the Balkan Peninsula countries. A comparative analysis of valid documents and those whose validity period has expired was carried out. Results: Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia have valid national preventive programmes. In Cyprus, a strategic plan for the provision of dental services is described. An oral health promotion programme for elementary school children and universal preventive programme for children (“dentist pass”) have been implemented in Greece. Serbia has a national preventive programme that has expired, but the programme activities still apply. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, and Turkey do not have national oral health preventive programmes. Countries in the region with no oral health promotion programmes have poorer oral health indicators compared to countries with existing programmes. Conclusions: While countries in the Balkan Peninsula have made progress in improving the oral health of their inhabitants, the absence of national oral health promotion programmes is striking in many countries in the region. Greater involvement of the community in activities to maintain and improve oral health is needed, as is more comprehensive dental care for vulnerable populations. This paper (Part I) compares national oral health promotion programmes of the Balkan countries, the key measures and activities, and general and specific objectives of the programme.
Keywords: oral health; prevention; national programme; Balkan countries
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Balkan Journal of Dental Medicine, 2024, vol. 28, br. 2, str. 85-90