Original Article

Year : 2018 | Volume : 3 | Issue : 2 | Page : 33 - 36

Prevalence of Dental Anxiety among Undergraduate Students at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania

Paulo Joseph Laizer, Tumaini Simon Ndekero1, Karpal Singh Sohal

Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and 1 Restorative Dentistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Background:

Dental anxiety is one of the most common phobias and among the major problems in dentistry. Students in medical field are future health professionals who are supposed to provide a positive attitude toward dentistry to society. However, if they have dental anxiety, their attitude toward dentistry is likely to be negative.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental anxiety among undergraduate students at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

Methodology:

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving undergraduate students at MUHAS. Data were collected using a self‐administered Modified Dental Anxiety Scale questionnaire with additional questions on demographic characteristics and a list of fear-provoking factors. Data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences computer software version 19.0 (2010; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Chi‐square test was used to assess the association between variables, and the significance level was set at P < 0.05.

Results:

This study enrolled 252 undergraduate students with an age range of 18–39 years. More than half (54.4%) were males. Most (55.2%) of the participants had some degree of dental anxiety. The prevalence of dental anxiety was relatively higher in females (70.4%). The association between dental anxiety and the degree courses was significant. Dental students had the lowest dental anxiety level compared to nondental students.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of dental anxiety among undergraduate students at MUHAS was high. Dental anxiety was significantly higher in female students. There was a significant relationship between dental anxiety and the degree course of the participants.

Keywords: Dental anxiety, prevalence, undergraduate students

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article: Laizer PJ, Ndekero TS, Sohal KS. Prevalence of dental anxiety among undergraduate students at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania. Int J Soc Rehab 2019;3:33-6.