title: Cost evaluation for the implementation of water fluoridation in Gauteng.
abstract: Regulations to implement water fluoridation in South Africa were promulgated in September 2000. Water providers are now compelled to fluoridate public water sources. In terms of Regulation 5(c) of the regulations, certain information regarding the cost of water fluoridation must be submitted to the Director General of Health. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the cost of water fluoridation in Gauteng and to provide a model for similar calculations in other provinces. The following criteria were used to evaluate the cost of water fluoridation in Gauteng--per capita cost per year, cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The calculated cost per capita per year was R0.73 while CEA showed that R3.95 will be spent to save 1 DMFT. The cost-benefit ratio based on the scale of benefits cost of a 2 surface plastic restoration was 0.04. Evaluation of cost for the implementation of water fluoridation in Gauteng was extremely favourable and a model to estimate the per capita figure is provided.
authors.affiliation: Deportment of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Pretoria. pjvanwyk@medic.up.ac.za
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Wyk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kroon
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Holtshousen
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000191:economics*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D018803:Models, Economic; D013019:South Africa