Fluoridation--what the public know and what they want.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the knowledge and beliefs on fluoridation of a community served by an unfluoridated water supply prior to consultation on implementing fluoridation.


METHODS
Telephone survey of a sample of residents and businesses utilising semi-structured questionnaires. Comparisons were made among responses of ethnic and age groups.


RESULTS
Residents were more conversant concerning fluoridation than business users. Knowledge and beliefs among ethnic groups differed significantly. Younger persons and those who had never been married were less knowledgeable. Pamphlets supplied by water-provider organisations or health professionals were the preferred methods of acquiring fluoridation information. The majority of respondents wished the opportunity to express their views via a referendum. Health authorities were the favoured decision-makers.


CONCLUSIONS
Gaps were identified in this community's knowledge on fluoridation with important differences based on ethnicity and age. Strategies to inform the public on water fluoridation need to address these subgroup differences.
Campbell
D
D
Public Health Protection, Auckland Healthcare, New Zealand. donald.campbell@midcentral.co.nz
Holbrook
L
L
Watson
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011634:Public Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014881:Water Supply