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.
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.
Authors: Rakan Shaheen; Mohammed AlShulayyil; Mohammad Abdul Baseer; Ahmed Abdullah Saeed Bahamid; Abdulrahman Dahham AlSaffan; Reem Al Herbisch Journal: Clin Cosmet Investig Dent Date: 2021-12-06
Authors: Gülçin Yılmaz; Abanoub Riad; Martin Krsek; Hanefı Kurt; Sameh Attia Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-03 Impact factor: 3.390