Dental fear and associated factors among adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Aim: To determine the occurrence and possible social demographic factors related to dental fear among adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Study participants and methods: 306 participants (71.3%) had visited a dentist before thus completed the Corah dental anxiety scale (DAS) and the Dental fear survey form (DFSF). Chi-square test was used to test for significant differences. Results: Females were more regular attendees to dental clinics and less likely to hesitate making or canceling appointments than males, while less educated participants were significantly more likely to hesitate making appointments due to fear of dental treatment. Utilizing DAS score, 21.8% of study participants were found to have dental fear with the mean DAS score of 3.38. Employing DFSF, increase in heart beat was the most reported physiological response during dental treatment, and feeling of the needle being injected was the most reported stimuli of dental fear. Conclusion: Dental fear among adults in Ilala was a real problem as it was reported by a substantial proportion of the study population and several factors were found to be important stimuli for triggering fear.

Keywords: Dental fear, dental visits, dental treatment, adults, Tanzania

Tanzania Dental Journal Vol. 14 (2) 2007: pp. 34-39