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.
