Abstract
PurposeThis study examines oral health behavioral trends and the development of sociodemographic differences in oral health behaviors among Tanzanian students between 1999 and 2000.MethodsThe population targeted was students attending the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences (MUCHS) at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted and a total of 635 and 981 students, respectively, completed questionnaires in 1999 and 2001.ResultsCross-tabulation analyses revealed that in 1999, the rates of abstinence from tobacco use, and of soft drink consumption, regular dental checkups, and intake of chocolate/candy were 84%, 51%, 48%, and 12%, respectively, among students of urban origin and 83%, 29%, 37%, and 5% among their rural counterparts. The corresponding rates in 2001 were 87%, 56%, 50%, and 9% among urban students and 84%, 44%, 38%, and 4% among rural ones. Multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for sex, age, place of origin, educational level, year of survey, and their interaction terms revealed a significant increase in the rate of soft drink consumption, implementation of oral hygiene measures, and abstinence from tobacco use between 1999 and 2001. Social inequalities observed in 1999, with urban students being more likely than their rural counterparts to take soft drinks and go for regular dental checkups, had leveled off by 2001.ConclusionThis study provides initial evidence of oral health behavioral trends, that may be utilized in the planning of preventive programs among university students in Tanzania.
Highlights
In socioeconomically developing countries, the change from a traditional lifestyle to a Western lifestyle has, among other things, led to an increase in sugar consumption from food and beverages, and in the form of chocolate/candy [1]
In Tanzania, liberalization of trade links with industrialized countries has brought about imports of greater quantities of sugar; commercialized sugar products have increasingly gained social importance [2]
Sample and data collection The present analyses are based on data from two consecutive cross-sectional surveys undertaken at the Muhimbili University Colleges of Health Sciences (MUCHS) at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Summary
The change from a traditional lifestyle to a Western lifestyle has, among other things, led to an increase in sugar consumption from food and beverages, and in the form of chocolate/candy [1]. Higher caries prevalence is anticipated following increased consumption of sugar especially since for the majority, fluoridated toothpaste is not available. In Tanzania, liberalization of trade links with industrialized countries has brought about imports of greater quantities of sugar; commercialized sugar products have increasingly gained social importance [2]. In recent years, smoking has become fashionable and an increasing number of smoking women is anticipated. Few systematic data are available on health behavioral trends among the people of Tanzania and its neighboring countries
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