title: [Multiple aspects of the use of fluorine in public health from the viewpoint of healthcare leaders].
abstract: The article describes the perceptions of health care leaders on issues relating to the use of fluorine in public health. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, using Collective Subject Discourse (DCS) as technique for processing the statements. The study population was comprised of delegates to the 13th National Health Conference; the sample was defined by convenience and consisted of 310 delegates: 56 at municipal level in Fortaleza (CE), 143 at state level (Ceará) and 111 at national level. Data were collected by semi-structured questionnaires. There were gaps in knowledge about various aspects of the use of fluorine in public health, which indicates the need to improve the level of information of society on issues relating to fluoridation. The lack of knowledge of delegates, together with the data found in the literature about the shortcomings in the monitoring and control of fluorine levels in water, are indicative of the need to reassess the role of social actors and the mechanisms used in social control.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontologia Restauradora, Faculdade de Farmácia, Odontologia e Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Rua Monsenhor Furtado s/n , Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, CE. reginalucena1@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Regina Glaucia Lucena Aguiar
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Regina Auxiliadora de Amorim
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Léa Maria Bezerra de
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Paulo Capel
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Narvai
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001938:Brazil; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000191:economics; D005461:Fluorine; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D005461:Fluorine