Attitudes to water fluoridation in South Africa 1998. Part I. Analysis by age, sex, population and province.
The successful implementation of water fluoridation (WF) depends upon support from the public. A survey was conducted in 1998 by the Human Sciences Research Council to assess attitudes of the South African population towards WF. A representative sample of 2,220 persons over the age of 18 years was interviewed. Questions relating to current knowledge, sources of information, the purpose of water fluoridation and its desirability as a public health measure were put to respondents. Only 25% of the population had heard or read of WF. The major sources of information were the electronic and printed media (40% and 27% respectively), while 2.5% heard about it from dentists. Just over a third of the sample (35.5%) identified the purpose of WF as protecting teeth from decay; 28% said it was to purify water and 28.5% were uncertain of, or did not know its purpose. Nearly two-thirds (61.9%) indicated that fluoride should be added to drinking water if it can reduce tooth decay, while 9% were not in favour and 29% were uncertain. The results suggest that most people do not know what WF is or does, though most were in agreement that it should be implemented to reduce tooth decay.
Chikte
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Department of Community Dentistry, University of Stellenbosch.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population