title: Community water fluoridation support and opposition in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the level of support for water fluoridation across Australia and examine the association between water fluoridation stance and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, commitment to the stance, and opinions, beliefs and knowledge regarding water fluoridation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional questionnaire data were obtained from 510 Australian adults (response rate = 34%) in 2008. Data were weighted by age, gender and state and territory estimated resident population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were asked to rate the strength of their support for or opposition to water fluoridation on a 7-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 70% of survey respondents supported water fluoridation, 15.4% were opposed, and 14.5% were neutral. Those strongly opposed were most resistant to altering their opinion on the basis of new information or research. However, approximately 90% of people who were neutral, slightly supportive or moderately supportive would "maybe" or "definitely" change their stance. Fluoridation opposition was associated with lower income and educational attainment, more self-rated knowledge, and with beliefs about reduced benefits and greater harms. Opinions about who should be responsible for the introduction of water fluoridation and sources of information on fluoridation varied significantly by water fluoridation opinion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While this survey lends further weight to the evidence confirming extensive support for water fluoridation in Australia, a large percentage of the public may be open to changing their stance if presented with new information or research. To maintain the widespread acceptance of water fluoridation, it is important that the public are provided with unbiased and accurate interpretations of the continual stream of research related to fluorides and water fluoridation.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. jason.armfield@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Armfield
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Akers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult