Misconceptions on Causes and Management of Dental Caries: Experience from Central Tanzanian Society

ABSTRACT

Background: Misconceptions about causation and management of diseases are common in societies, thereby affecting health seeking behavior, including for oral diseases. Thus, this study aimed at determining the misconceptions on causes and management of dental caries in central Tanzanian society. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in central zone of Tanzania, comprising of people aged 18 years and above, who were obtained by stratified two stage sampling technique. The oldest person per household was interviewed. A questionnaire consisting of questions regarding misconception on causes and management of dental caries, use of local remedies and treatment seeking behaviour was used to collect data. Analysis of data was done using computer program SPSS version 19 whereby the level of significance for Chi-square was set at p-value of ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 371 participants were included. There were more female participants with male to female ratio of 0.81. The age range of respondents was 18 to 81 years with mean age of 38.04 ±13.2 years. The overall incidence of misconception was 87%. With regards to age, sex, and marital status; the misconceptions were more prevalent in females, older adults and those who ever married. The most common misconception was “extraction of upper jaw teeth can lead to head swelling and death”. Conclusion: Misconceptions concerning dental caries and its management are very widespread in Tanzanian society. They are more common amongst those who have ever married and older adults. Use of local remedies is very common amongst individuals of all walks of life.