Knowledge, Attitude and Barriers to Fluoride Treatment Use Among Peoples
Abstract
Background: Fluoride is a cornerstone of preventive dentistry, playing a vital role in maintaining oral health. Its ability to strengthen tooth enamel, enhance remineralization, and inhibit bacterial activity makes it indispensable in protecting teeth from decay. The aim of study to assess the knowledge level, attitudes and barriers of patients toward fluoride treatments.
Method: Stratified random sampling was chosen to ensure representativeness by dividing participants into subgroups based on age and gender, followed by random selection within each group. Data collection was done through a structured questionnaire developed to assess participants knowledge of fluoride treatments, their attitudes toward fluoride use and the barriers they perceived to using fluoride treatments. Correlation analysis to assess the relation between Knowledge, attitude and demographic factors regarding fluoride treatment. Odd Ratios wit 95% confidence intervals were calculated to identify barriers to fluoride treatment. Statistically significant level was defined as less than 0.05 probability.
Results: The study showed that 77.9% of participants had never heard about fluoride treatment and 91% lacked knowledge about its benefits. The most significant barriers to fluoride use were a lack of knowledge 48.1% and the absence of dentist recommendation 37.6%. Correlation analysis showed that education had the strongest positive relation with fluoride knowledge r = 0.46, P= 0.001. Logistic regression indicated that knowledge OR = 2.4, P = 0.0001 and barriers to fluoride use OR = 3.0, P = 0.0001 were strong predictors of willingness to receive fluoride treatment.
Conclusion: Addressing these barriers through education, financial support and accessibility improvements will be crucial in increasing fluoride utilization and enhancing oral health outcomes.
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