Oral health related knowledge, behaviours, attitude and self-assessed status of primary school teachers in Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the oral health related knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and self-assessed status of primary school teachers in Rungwe, Tanzania.


METHODS
195 final year teacher trainees and 239 in-service teachers.


METHODS
A structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
School teachers were generally well informed and had moderate attitudes and behaviours to oral health related issues. However, a few but important deficiencies in this regard have been identified on which recommendations are presented. A substantial proportion of teachers reported having dental problems. However, the teachers had positive attitudes towards oral health education to pupils as part of a teaching curriculum. A professional support is called upon for teachers from the oral health personnel in terms of oral health education training at teachers' colleges, to prepare the teacher trainees for their future task.


CONCLUSIONS
In-service teachers need to be motivated to improve their awareness on sound oral health information, attitudes and behaviours. This will facilitate their role as school oral health education providers in Tanzanian primary schools.
Mwangosi
Ibrahim E A T
IE
Mbeya School of Dental Therapists, Tanzania.
Nyandindi
Ursuline
U
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015438:Health Behavior; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania; D013663:Teaching; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014505:Urban Population
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides