Knowledge, management and self-perception of oral health among students attending the University of Dar es Salaam

The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge, management and self-perception of oral health among stundents attending the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The study consisted of 273 students attending the teacher programme and a questionnaire was used to collect the data. The result showed that 153 (58%) of the participants stated that the purpose of using fluoride was prevention of caries. The majority answered that bacteria and sugar in relation to caries was significant. The dominant source of oral health training was school. Toothbrush was the dominant cleaning aid and the usage of fluoride toothpaste was fairly high among the students. One hundred and forty nine (55%) respondents stated that they were in need of dental treatment and ninety-two (34%) students felt that life in general was less satisfying due to oral heath problems. The conclusion of the study was that the students show rather good knowledge concerning oral disease and its prevention but gaps in knowledge concerning underlying factors. The management of oral health seemed to be good among the students. Although, a significant number of students stated that they were in need of dental treatment, felt that life was less satisfying due to oral problems and had oral problems interfering with daily life. Syftet med studien var att undersöka kunskapen om, skötseln av och självuppfattningen om den orala hälsan bland studenter på University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I studien ingick 273 studenter som studerade till lärare, en enkät användes för att samla in data. Resultatet visade att 153 (58%) av studenterna uppgav att syftet med fluor var att förebygga karies. Majoriteten svarade att bakteriers och sockers relation till bildandet av karies var betydelsefull. Studenterna uppgav att skolan var den största källan till träning i oral hälsa. Tandborste användes som främsta hjälpmedel för att rengöra tänderna och användning av fluortandkräm var ganska hög bland studenterna. Etthundrafyrtionio (55%) av deltagarna uppgav att de var i behov av tandvård och nittiotvå (34%) att den orala hälsan gav upphov till att livet i allmänhet var mindre tillfredställande. Studiens slutsats är att studenterna hade ganska god kunskap om sjukdomar i munhålan och dess prevention men det fanns kunskapsbrister kring bakomliggande faktorer. Skötseln av den oral hälsa tros vara god. Trots detta uppgav ganska många av de studerande att de hade behov av tandvård, hade känt att livet var mindre tillfredsstä