Abstract:
Background: Oral pain has been the major cause of the attendances in the dental clinics in
Tanzania. Some patients postpone seeing the dentist for as long as two to five days. This study
determines the prevalence of oral pain and barriers to use of emergency oral care in Tanzania.
Methods: Questionnaire data were collected from 1,759 adult respondents aged 18 years and
above. The study area covered six urban and eight rural study clusters, which had been selected
using the WHO Pathfinder methodology. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were
performed to identify associations.
Results: Forty two percent of the respondents had utilized the oral health care facilities sometimes
in their lifetime. About 59% of the respondents revealed that they had suffered from oral pain and/
or discomfort within the twelve months that preceded the study, but only 26.5% of these had
sought treatment from oral health care facilities. The reasons for not seeking emergency care were:
lack of money to pay for treatment (27.9%); self medication (17.6%); respondents thinking that pain
would disappear with time (15.7%); and lack of money to pay for transport to the dental clinic
(15.0%). Older adults were more likely to report that they had experienced oral pain during the
last 12 months than the younger adults (OR = 1.57, CI 1.07–1.57, P < 0.001). Respondents from
rural areas were more likely report dental clinics far from home (OR = 5.31, CI = 2.09–13.54, P <
0.001); self medication at home (OR = 3.65, CI = 2.25–5.94, P < 0.001); and being treated by traditional
healer (OR = 5.31, CI = 2.25–12.49, P < 0.001) as reasons for not seeking emergency care from the
oral health care facilities than their counterparts from urban areas.
Conclusion: Oral pain and discomfort were prevalent among adult Tanzanians. Only a quarter of
those who experienced oral pain or discomfort sought emergency oral care from oral health care
facilities. Self medication was used as an alternative to using oral care facilities mainly by rural
residents. Establishing oral care facilities in rural areas is recommended.
