Magnitude and Determinants of Dental Anxiety among Adult Patients Attending Public Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

Introduction. It is estimated that, about 40% of the population suffer from dental anxiety. Dental anxiety is considered to be complex and multifactorial with a wide range of provoking factors which may be patient, provider, or environment-related. Aim. This study aimed to assess the magnitude and d...

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Main Authors: Kauther Musalam, Karpal S. Sohal, Sira S. Owibingire, Baraka Kileo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Dentistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9965204
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author Kauther Musalam
Karpal S. Sohal
Sira S. Owibingire
Baraka Kileo
author_facet Kauther Musalam
Karpal S. Sohal
Sira S. Owibingire
Baraka Kileo
author_sort Kauther Musalam
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. It is estimated that, about 40% of the population suffer from dental anxiety. Dental anxiety is considered to be complex and multifactorial with a wide range of provoking factors which may be patient, provider, or environment-related. Aim. This study aimed to assess the magnitude and determinants of dental anxiety among adult patients attending public dental clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methodology. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in 4 public hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It included 300 adult patients who had dental caries, periodontal diseases, or dental trauma. Data were collected using a self-administered Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the SPSS computer software version 23. A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the association between variables, and the significance level was set at p<0.05. Results. The mean age of participants was 32.18 years (±11.06 SD) with a male-to-female ratio of 1 : 1.43. The means MDAS score was 12.84 ± 4.99. Tooth extraction had the highest mean MDAS score. The majority (261, 87%) of participants had mild-to-severe anxiety. The most common (72.2%) anxiety-provoking factor was an unsympathetic dentist; others included unawareness of the procedure to be carried out (58.3%) and the presence of apprehensive patients (52.0%). The level of anxiety was found to be statistically significantly associated (p<0.05) with young age [p=0.009, AOR 3.06 (95% CI, 1.32, 7.09), female patients [p<0.001, AOR 4.45 (95% CI, 2.05, 9.70)], and a higher education level [p<0.05, AOR 2.32 (95% CI, 1.03, 5.25)]. Conclusion. The prevalence of dental anxiety was high among the participants of this study. Female gender, young age, and a higher level of education constituted determinants of dental anxiety. An unsympathetic practitioner, unawareness of the procedure, and presence of apprehensive patients were the common anxiety-provoking factors.
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spelling doaj-art-20bbd8d9a15f43d097aa7d6d928eda912025-08-20T02:03:58ZengWileyInternational Journal of Dentistry1687-87281687-87362021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99652049965204Magnitude and Determinants of Dental Anxiety among Adult Patients Attending Public Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, TanzaniaKauther Musalam0Karpal S. Sohal1Sira S. Owibingire2Baraka Kileo3Department of Dental Services, Muhimbili National Hospital, P. O. Box 65000, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Dental Services, Muhimbili National Hospital, P. O. Box 65000, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 65014, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Dental Services, Muhimbili National Hospital, P. O. Box 65000, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaIntroduction. It is estimated that, about 40% of the population suffer from dental anxiety. Dental anxiety is considered to be complex and multifactorial with a wide range of provoking factors which may be patient, provider, or environment-related. Aim. This study aimed to assess the magnitude and determinants of dental anxiety among adult patients attending public dental clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methodology. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in 4 public hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It included 300 adult patients who had dental caries, periodontal diseases, or dental trauma. Data were collected using a self-administered Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the SPSS computer software version 23. A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the association between variables, and the significance level was set at p<0.05. Results. The mean age of participants was 32.18 years (±11.06 SD) with a male-to-female ratio of 1 : 1.43. The means MDAS score was 12.84 ± 4.99. Tooth extraction had the highest mean MDAS score. The majority (261, 87%) of participants had mild-to-severe anxiety. The most common (72.2%) anxiety-provoking factor was an unsympathetic dentist; others included unawareness of the procedure to be carried out (58.3%) and the presence of apprehensive patients (52.0%). The level of anxiety was found to be statistically significantly associated (p<0.05) with young age [p=0.009, AOR 3.06 (95% CI, 1.32, 7.09), female patients [p<0.001, AOR 4.45 (95% CI, 2.05, 9.70)], and a higher education level [p<0.05, AOR 2.32 (95% CI, 1.03, 5.25)]. Conclusion. The prevalence of dental anxiety was high among the participants of this study. Female gender, young age, and a higher level of education constituted determinants of dental anxiety. An unsympathetic practitioner, unawareness of the procedure, and presence of apprehensive patients were the common anxiety-provoking factors.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9965204
spellingShingle Kauther Musalam
Karpal S. Sohal
Sira S. Owibingire
Baraka Kileo
Magnitude and Determinants of Dental Anxiety among Adult Patients Attending Public Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
International Journal of Dentistry
title Magnitude and Determinants of Dental Anxiety among Adult Patients Attending Public Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
title_full Magnitude and Determinants of Dental Anxiety among Adult Patients Attending Public Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
title_fullStr Magnitude and Determinants of Dental Anxiety among Adult Patients Attending Public Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
title_full_unstemmed Magnitude and Determinants of Dental Anxiety among Adult Patients Attending Public Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
title_short Magnitude and Determinants of Dental Anxiety among Adult Patients Attending Public Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
title_sort magnitude and determinants of dental anxiety among adult patients attending public dental clinics in dar es salaam tanzania
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9965204
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