MUHIMBILI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY DEPARTMENT OF ORTHODONTICS, PAEDODONTICS AND COMMUNITY DENTISTRY TITLE: ASSESSING THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF FLUORIDE USE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ILALA DISTRICT DAR ES SALAAM INVESTIGATOR NAME: BONIPHACE LUBASHA REG NO: 2017-04-10500 CONTACTS: 0620402142 EMAIL: boniphacemabala527@gmail.com SUPERVISOR. NAME: Dr HAWA SHARIFF MBAWALLA Senior lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry, Department of OPCD EMAIL: Hawa.homera@gmail.com INTRODUCTION. BACKGROUND. Fluoride use is an effective preventive measure for maintaining good individual oral health which is an integral part of one’s general health. The use of fluoride helps in prevention of dental caries. In other way we can say fluoride use is ones of oral hygiene practices that keeps the oral cavity healthier and free from oral disease like tooth decay and gum disease. Access to fluoride has been the basic right to human health (WHO 2007). There are three basic fluoride delivery method. Community based (fluoridated water, salt and milk), professionally administered (fluoride gels and varnishes) and self-administered (tooth pastes and mouth rinses)(1). Fluoride tooth paste, gel or cream contain between 1000 and 1500 ppm of fluoride(2). Dental caries and periodontal diseases are priority public health problems throughout the globe. If untreated, they affect quality of life and lead to anxiety, bad breath, toothache, difficulty in feeding; sleep loss, development of dento-facial anomalies and other serious health problems, such as dental abscess, destruction of bone and sepsis (REFs). Primary prevention through fluoride use has paramount importance in the prevention of dental health problems (3) The knowledge on fluoride use is very important as studies have shown that there is an association of increased knowledge and better oral health (REF). Those who have assimilated knowledge and feel a sense of self personal control over their oral health are more likely to adopt self -care practices (REF). The knowledge on fluoride use include the knowledge on the important of fluoride in oral health and where fluoride can be obtained, also it include the knowledge on the importance of tooth brushing. Also the proper practices on tooth brushing with fluoridated toothpaste improve oral health which is related to general health. Those who properly brush their teeth at least twice a day with fluoridated tooth paste seems to have improved oral health (1). The practices include techniques of brushing, amount of toothpastes applied on the tooth paste, and frequency of tooth brushing per day. a secondary school student is expected to have optimal knowledge concerning tooth brushing with fluoridated tooth paste. Some researches shows that secondary school students have adequate knowledge on oral health but low level of oral health practices like tooth brushing with fluoridated tooth pastes (5). So it is assumed that poor tooth brushing practice results to poor oral health is associated with low level of knowledge and poor practice on tooth brushing with fluoride use. According to the WHO data, 49% of the world population have DMFT index value of 3 (the sum of carious, extracted and filled teeth) (REF). The caries incidence is directly related to the economic and social development of society (REF). The oral status of an individual depends on their oral hygiene habits, way of life, economic status and frequency of visits to the dentist (REF). If the teeth are inadequately brushed, a biofilm forms on them and it is the main cause of caries and periodontal diseases. Since caries and periodontal diseases can be controlled if the appropriate oral habits are adopted, they are considered behavioral diseases (4). PROBLEM STATEMENT What is the problem?: Evidence that an increasing use of fluoride toothpastes are the most significant factors for improved control of dental caries at the global levels. While that is no true for Tanzania because of insufficient oral health preventive measures resulting into increase of dental caries incidence in adolescents What is the said cause of the problem?: poor knowledge of effective approaches for caries prevention like fluorides How is it distributed?; diseases is affecting almost all of the adolescents in Tanzania Who are affected?: Tanzanian adolescents But few studies have been done in Tanzania so making it difficult to establish the magnitude of the problem. More studies on the topic are required in order to establish the magnitude of the problem so that appropriate intervention can be done. Rationale Following limited information on knowledge and practice of fluoride use in secondary school students in Tanzania, this study will add to the available knowledge on the topic. Also, this study will help me in advancing my research skills and as a requirement for completion of my Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. RESEARCH QUESTIONS Broad question What is the knowledge and practices on fluoride use among secondary school students in Ilala district Dar es salaam? Specific questions 1. What is the knowledge of fluoride use among secondary school students in Ilala Dar es salaam? 2. What is the practice on fluoride use among secondary school students in Ilala Dar es salaam? 3. What is the differences by sex on knowledge and practice of fluoride use among secondary students in Ilala Dar es salaam? 4. What is the differences by age on knowledge and practices on fluoride use among secondary school students Ilala Dar es salaam? RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Broad objectives To assess the knowledge and practices on fluoride use among secondary school students in Ilala district Dar es salaam. Specific objectives 5. To assess the knowledge of fluoride use among secondary school students in Ilala Dar es salaam. 6. To assess the practice of fluoride use among secondary school students in Ilala Dar es salaam. 7. To assess the gap by sex on knowledge and practice of fluoride use among secondary students in Ilala Dar es salaam. 8. To assess the gap by age on knowledge and practices of fluoride use among secondary school students Ilala Dar es salaam.
