A Health Education Video in an Indigenous Nigerian Language to Dispel Misconceptions Associated with Reversal of Eruption Sequence of Anterior Teeth

Abstract

Research findings conducted in Nigeria have revealed grave misconceptions regarding eruption of maxillary anterior teeth before 
the mandibular ones in children as affected individuals are believed to be evil, carriers of misfortune and their families are deemed 
cursed. Such children are stigmatized, abandoned and may be gotten rid of. A twenty three minute culturally appropriate video 
in the Yoruba language titled “Baba Yoyin” (meaning male tooth extractor -traditional dentist ) was developed to demystify the 
Nigerian community about misconceptions associated with reversal of eruption sequence of teeth and educate them about hazards
associated with patronizing traditional dentists and the need to visit a dentist/doctor for advice. In the pre -production stage, the 
video was designed and planned and the cast , crew and appropriate locations for shooting the film shooting were selected . In 
the production stage, filming was done with several wide, medium and close shots. At post production, the film was edited with
a sound mix comprising of sound effects and music. Computer graphic effects were added digitally. This video was produced 
in Yoruba, an indigenous Nigerian language to serve as a culturally appropriate community dental health education tool targeting 
nursing mothers, pregnant women, and traditional birth attendants from the lower social class in south western Nigeria. The 
storyline in this video tape will be translated into Igbo and Hausa , the two other major Nigerian languages. This videotape can 
be repeated in other African settings whose societies experience similar misconceptions about tooth eruption.