Current status of nylon teeth myth in Tanzania: a cross sectional study.

Background: Nylon teeth myth is a belief of associating infant illnesses with bulges on infants' alveolus that mark the positions of underlying developing teeth and that it is necessary to treat the condition mainly by traditional healers to prevent infant death. The traditional treatment often leads to serious complications that may lead to infant death. Although the government instituted educational campaigns against the myth in 1980s to 1990s, to date, repeated unpublished reports from different parts of the country indicate continued existence of the myth.

Attitudes, subjective norms, and intention to perform routine oral examination for oropharyngeal candidiasis as perceived by primary health-care providers in Nairobi Province.

Objectives: To assess attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions of primary health-care (PHC) providers in performing routine oral examination for oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) during outpatient consultations.

Methods: A 47-item Theory of Planned Behaviour-based questionnaire was developed and administered, in a cross-sectional survey, to 216 PHC providers (clinical officers and nurses) working in 54 clinics, dispensaries, and health centers in Nairobi Province in January 2010. The constructs - attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (dependent variables) - and their individual indirect (direct) items were analyzed for scores, internal validity, independent variables (district, gender, years of service, profession, and age), and contribution to intentions.

Socio-demographic and behavioural correlates of oral health related quality of life among Tanzanian adults: A national pathfinder survey.

In response to the growing recognition of quality of life measurement in health care, indicators that address the social and psychological consequences of oral disorders have been developed to complement conventional clinical assessment. The objective of this study was to determine socio-demographic and behavioural correlates of oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Tanzanian adults. The national pathfinder survey methodology described in the WHO Oral Health Surveys - Basic Methods was used to obtain a total of 1,759 Tanzanian adults aged 18 years and above.

Barriers to restorative care as perceived by dental practitioners in Tanzania.

Objective: To identify barriers to restorative care, as perceived by dental practitioners.

Methods: Of the total of 147 dental practitioners employed in regional and district government hospitals and municipal health centres, 138 completed a pre-tested questionnaire: a response rate of 94%. Factor analysis was performed to extract barrier factors.

Barriers to the adoption of the ART approach as perceived by dental practitioners in governmental dental clinics, in Tanzania.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the magnitude of the barriers to the practice of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) as perceived by dental practitioners working in pilot dental clinics, and determine the influence of these barriers on the practice of ART.

Material And Methods: A validated and tested questionnaire on barriers that may hinder the practice of ART was administered to 20 practitioners working in 13 pilot clinics. Factor analysis was performed to generate barrier factors.

Oral health related behaviors among adult Tanzanians: a national pathfinder survey.

Background: The oral health education programs which have been organised and delivered in Tanzania were not based on a thorough understanding of behaviours which influence oral health. Therefore, evaluation of these programs became difficult. This study aimed at investigating the oral health related behaviours and their determinants among Tanzanian adults.

Impact of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) on the treatment profile in pilot government dental clinics in Tanzania.

Background: The predominant mode of treatment in government dental clinics in Tanzania has been tooth extraction because the economy could not support the conventional restorative care which depends on expensive equipment, electricity and piped water systems. Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) was perceived as a suitable alternative. A 3.

Satisfaction with urgent oral care among adult Tanzanians.

The aim of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with urgent oral care and to evaluate the association between patient satisfaction and different aspects of such care. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire on patient satisfaction (score 1 = very dissatisfied; score 5 = very satisfied) was administered to 741 adults. Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to identify associations between dependent and independent variables.

Dental practitioners' attitudes, subjective norms and intentions to practice atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) in Tanzania.

The aim of this study was to describe the attitude and subjective norm of dental practitioners towards practicing the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) in Tanzania. A pre-tested questionnaire on attitudes and subjective norms to practice ART was mailed to all 147 dental practitioners working in the regional and district government clinics. The independent variables were: gender, working experience, qualification and ever heard of ART.

Barriers to restorative care as perceived by dental patients attending government hospitals in Tanzania.

Objectives: Perceptions of dental patients in Tanzania regarding barriers to restorative care were examined.

Methods: A total of 1138 dental patients aged 15 years and above, attending 12 selected government dental clinics in January 2005, completed a pre-tested questionnaire. anova and logistic regression were used to identify the effects of independent variables upon the barrier factors.

Prevalence of oral pain and barriers to use of emergency oral care facilities among adult Tanzanians.

Background: Oral pain has been the major cause of the attendances in the dental clinics in Tanzania. Some patients postpone seeing the dentist for as long as two to five days. This study determines the prevalence of oral pain and barriers to use of emergency oral care in Tanzania.

Utilization of toothpaste and fluoride content in toothpaste manufactured in Tanzania.

Objective: To determine the use of toothpaste, the reasons behind its irregular use, the cost perceptions, and the fluoride concentrations in locally manufactured toothpaste.

Material And Methods: A total of 978 dental patients attending 13 dental clinics for 2 weeks in June 2007 completed a pre-tested questionnaire on toothpaste use. Toothpaste was collected from shops in Dar es Salaam and analyzed at the laboratory of the Dental School in Amsterdam.

Profile of the oral healthcare team in countries with emerging economies.

Health is a critical dimension of human well-being and flourishing, and oral health is an integral component of health: one is not healthy without oral health. Significant barriers exist to ensuring the world's people receive basic healthcare, including oral healthcare. Amongst these are poverty, ignorance, inadequate financial resources and lack of adequate numbers of educated and trained (oral) healthcare workers.

Oral manifestations of HIV infection in children and adults receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy [HAART] in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and types of HIV-related oral lesions between children and adult Tanzanian patients on HAART with those not on HAART and to relate the occurrence of the lesions with anti-HIV drug regimen, clinical stage of HIV disease and CD4+ cell count.

Methods: Participants were 532 HIV infected patients, 51 children and 481 adults, 165 males and 367 females. Children were aged 2-17 years and adults 18 and 67 years.

Need for orthodontic treatment among Tanzanian children.

Objective: To determine the need for orthodontic treatment among Tanzanian Bantu children.

Design: Prospective study using dental casts.

Setting: Sixteen randomly selected schools from the Ilala district, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Demand for orthodontic treatment among 9-18 year-olds seeking dental care in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Objective: To investigate the demand for orthodontic treatment among 9-18 olds seeking dental care in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Design: Case-control, interview and clinical study.

Settings: Children seeking dental care.

Perceptions of dental attractiveness and orthodontic treatment need among Tanzanian children.

The aim of this study was to assess the opinions of Tanzanian children on dental attractiveness and their perceptions of orthodontic treatment need in relation to their own dental attractiveness as measured by the aesthetic component (AC) of the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN). In a random sample of 386 school children (48% boys, 52% girls), aged 9 to 18 years, the subjective need was assessed by using a prestructured questionnaire, and attractiveness was scored by using 18 intraoral frontal photographs. Orthodontic treatment need was measured with the IOTN, and 11% of the children definitely needed orthodontic treatment (grades 8-10 of the AC with 4-5 of the dental health component [DHC]).

Comparison between the opinions of Tanzanian parents and their children on dental attractiveness.

The objective was to investigate the opinion of Tanzanian parents on dental attractiveness and to compare their opinion with that of their children. A prestructured questionnaire with 18 intraoral frontal photographs was given to 286 parents and their children aged 9-18 years. The photographs represented various types of occlusion traits, with the first 10 intraoral photographs representing grade 1-10 of the aesthetic component (AC) of the index of orthodontic treatment need, and the remaining eight photographs were added to represent malocclusions that are often seen in Tanzania.

Tanzanian high school students' attitude towards five university professional courses.

Objective: To determine the attitude of high school students majoring in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) towards Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Nursing as professions at university.

Design: A cross sectional study of a representative sample of high school students using a pretested attitudinal questionnaire. Attitude components tested were degree of liking, degree of admiration and intentions to visit a professional at work.

Dental caries and periodontal conditions among primary school children in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.

Objective: To describe the occurrence of dental caries and periodontal conditions among standards three and four primary school children in Morogoro municipality and compare the obtained oral health indicators with the goals stipulated in the National Plan for Oral Health by the year 2002.

Design: Cross sectional study of the oral health status among eight to 15-year old primary school children.

Setting: Primary schools in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.

Survival of Fuji IX ART fillings in permanent teeth of primary school children in Tanzania.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical performance of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) fillings using Fuji IX as a filling material in field conditions.

Design: Longitudinal study of the ART fillings in permanent teeth of primary school children aged eight to fifteen years.

Setting: Primary schools in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.

Factors influencing career choice among high school students in Tanzania.

The aim of this study was to identify factors that influenced career choice among high school students in Tanzania. The information obtained would be used to formulate effective recruitment strategies and counseling students on their career expectations in dentistry. All 352 high school students who were studying in five randomly selected high schools completed a pre-tested questionnaire containing twenty-four items addressing five factors.

Integrating oral health into primary health care--experiences in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and Tanzania.

When primary health care (PHC) was developed and implemented in developing countries, oral health was not included. The present consequences are marked disparities in the distribution of oral health care, since conventional dentistry can only serve relatively few people and at high costs. Oral health care is virtually non-existent in rural areas of most developing countries where more than 80 per cent of the population live.

Tooth bud extraction and rubbing of herbs by traditional healers in Tanzania: prevalence, and sociological and environmental factors influencing the practices.

The practice by traditional healers in Tanzania of extracting tooth buds or of rubbing herbs on to the gingivae of young children to cure fevers and diarrhoea has been known for many years. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of these practices in different regions of Tanzania and to identify sociological and environmental factors influencing belief in their efficacy. A total of 1052 children were examined for missing primary teeth, or scars or wounds on the gingivae, resulting from tooth bud extraction.

Missing primary teeth due to tooth bud extraction in a remote village in Tanzania.

The practice by traditional healers of extracting tooth buds as a cure for diarrhoea and fevers in children has existed in Tanzania for many years, but its extent is not known. This paper reports on the prevalence of missing primary teeth due to this practice among children living in Manghweta, a remote village in Tanzania. All children (n = 262) aged 5 years and below were examined for missing primary teeth.