Oral lesions associated with HIV/AIDS in HIV-seropositive patients attending a counselling and treatment centre in Dar es Salaam.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalences and patterns of oral lesions occurring in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 people living with HIV/AIDS (PlwHA) who regularly attended a counselling and treatment centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A questionnaire-guided interview and clinical oral assessment were used. Strict confidentiality and adherence to ethical codes were observed. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 38.91 years (standard deviation: 10.424; mode: 35 years; median: 37.0 years; range: 15-76 years). Most participants (58.5%) were aware of predispositions towards the occurrence of oral lesions such as oral candidiasis (60.0%) in HIV/AIDS and most of these (72.0%) were aware that the lesions are treatable. Some participants reported occurrences of oral thrush (22.5%) and lip ulcerations (28.5%), although only 47.0% of these had sought medical advice. Examinations revealed that 29.0% of participants had at least one oral lesion associated with HIV/AIDS. Prevalences of the various types of lesion were: 11.5% for herpes simplex; 7.5% for oral candidiasis; 4.0% for oral hairy leukoplakia; 3.5% for Kaposi's sarcoma; 1.5% for dry mouth; 0.5% for angular cheilitis, and 0.5% for acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis. Herpes simplex and Kaposi's sarcoma were more frequently observed in males (56.5% and 71.4%, respectively), whereas oral candidiasis and dry mouth were observed more often in females (86.7% and 66.7%, respectively) (χ(2) = 16.692, P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences of oral lesions associated with HIV/AIDS in PlwHA and using antiretroviral therapy are persistent, of moderate intensity and vary according to individual immune status. These patients' level of awareness about oral lesions was satisfactory, but formal medicodental lines of management were not prioritised. Contemporary protocol for the management of oral lesions should be understood and disseminated to the general public by dentists.

Oral health experience during pregnancy and dental service utilization in Bariadi District, Tanzania.

A substantial proportion of pregnant women reports experiencing oral health problems during pregnancy. However, most of them perceive that such problems are normal in pregnancy and hence do not seek dentist consultation. The objective of this study was to determine the prenatal oral health experience and the utilization of dental care services among pregnant women attending reproductive and child health clinics in Bariadi District in Tanzania. Data was collected using a questionnaire-guided interview. Key variables were socio-demographic characteristics of pregnant women, oral health experience, and dental visits during pregnancy with reasons and treatment received. A total of 305 pregnant women (mean age=25.7 years) were involved in the study. Most of the listed oral health problems during pregnancy were reported by women with 2+ children. The frequent oral health problems among the pregnant women were bleeding gums (22.6%, N=69), pain in gums (21.6%, N=66), swollen gums (21.3%, N=65), dental pain (30.5, N=93), and tooth decay (25.6%, n=78). However, only 31.8% (N=97) visited a dental clinic for consultation most whom, were those with three or more children (χ²=.682; P=002). The pregnant women who had visited a dentist in the past 12 months were 11.1% (N=34), mostly those aged >24 years and those with informal employment (P<0.05). Curative and preventive treatments were received more significantly by the urban and with formal employment (P<0.01). In conclusion, pregnant women in Bariadi, Tanzania experiences substantial oral health problems for which they do not often utilize dentists for consultation and management during pregnancy. Dentists and other health workers should therefore, intensify dental screening, emphasizing active family and community participation as part of regular prenatal care.

Oral Health Experience during Pregnancy and Dental Service Utilization in Bariadi District; Tanzania

Abstract:A substantial proportion of pregnant women reports experiencing oral health problems during pregnancy. However; most of them perceive that such problems are normal in pregnancy and hence do not seek dentist consultation. The objective of this study was to determine the prenatal oral health experience and the utilization of dental care services among pregnant women attending reproductive and child health clinics in Bariadi District in Tanzania. Data was collected using a questionnaire-guided interview. Key variables were socio-demographic characteristics of pregnant women; oral health experience; and dental visits during pregnancy with reasons and treatment received. A total of 305 pregnant women (mean age=25.7 years) were involved in the study. Most of the listed oral health problems during pregnancy were reported by women with 2+ children. The frequent oral health problems among the pregnant women were bleeding gums (22.6; N=69); pain in gums (21.6; N=66); swollen gums (21.3; N=65); dental pain (30.5; N=93); and tooth decay (25.6; n=78). However; only 31.8 (N=97) visited a dental clinic for consultation most whom; were those with three or more children (?2=4.682; P=002). The pregnant women who had visited a dentist in the past 12 months were 11.1 (N=34); mostly those aged 24 years and those with informal employment (P0.05). Curative and preventive treatments were received more significantly by the urban and with formal employment (P0.01). In conclusion; pregnant women in Bariadi; Tanzania experiences substantial oral health problems for which they do not often utilize dentists for consultation and management during pregnancy. Dentists and other health workers should therefore; intensify dental screening; emphasizing active family and community participation as part of regular prenatal care

Oral health related knowledge, behaviours, attitude and self-assessed status of primary school teachers in Tanzania.

AIM: To assess the oral health related knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and self-assessed status of primary school teachers in Rungwe, Tanzania. SUBJECTS: 195 final year teacher trainees and 239 in-service teachers. METHOD: A structured questionnaire. RESULTS: School teachers were generally well informed and had moderate attitudes and behaviours to oral health related issues. However, a few but important deficiencies in this regard have been identified on which recommendations are presented. A substantial proportion of teachers reported having dental problems. However, the teachers had positive attitudes towards oral health education to pupils as part of a teaching curriculum. A professional support is called upon for teachers from the oral health personnel in terms of oral health education training at teachers' colleges, to prepare the teacher trainees for their future task. CONCLUSION: In-service teachers need to be motivated to improve their awareness on sound oral health information, attitudes and behaviours. This will facilitate their role as school oral health education providers in Tanzanian primary schools.

Sources of oral health information and teaching materials for primary schoolteachers in Rungwe District, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the various major sources of Oral Health Education (OHE) for primary school teachers in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region, Tanzania. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using a self-administered close-ended questionnaire. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 232 rural and urban in-service primary school teachers and 195 final-year-teacher trainees at college. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Socio-demographic factors, common teachers' OHE sources, common sources of OHE teaching aides, and teachers' previous OHE training opportunity. RESULTS: Textbooks and a dental clinic were found to be the most common sources of OHE for a large proportion of in-service and trainee teachers, while neighbours and a teachers' college were reported by a smaller proportion. The District Dental Officer was the only significant source of oral health education teaching materials in this study. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: While primary schoolteachers' sources for oral health education information was mainly textbooks and from a dental clinic, the source of teaching materials was largely a District Dental Officer. Details on the particular sources were not sought and further studies are therefore required. However, the findings highlight a need for standardised and equally distributed oral health material sources both for valid information and for teaching in schools.