The importance of supportive environments for oral health promotion in school-aged children in Tanzania

Abstract

Children in Tanzanian primary schools are being provided with education for oral health. A supportive environment is needed to enable and reinforce them to sustain behaviour conducive to oral health. Some aspects of the home and school that might support or conflict with such behaviour were studied. In 10 urban and rural primary schools from one district, 200 children were interviewed, and the surroundings of the schools observed. The children were being advised by their parents to brush their teeth and to avoid sugary snacks, but the economic realities and school environments were less supportive of these behaviour. Tooth brushes and toothpastes were available but appeared to be costly. Rural children, in particular, went to school without breakfast. At school there were no organized meals but sugary snacks were being sold by vendors and shopkeepers. The ability of children to sustain behaviours conducive to oral health taught at the schools can be questioned. The need is evident for intersectoral action to improve the availability and affordability of healthy foods and proper toothcleaning materials to school-aged children in Tanzania.