Abstract
Traumatic tooth avulsion presents a challenge with regards to its prompt intervention as the ultimate outcome of an avulsed tooth that occurred in any child is dependent on appropriate emergency interventions. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the awareness, level of knowledge and attitude towards pre-hospital tooth avulsion care among primary school teachers in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. A descriptive cross sectional questionnaire based study. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed among the teachers to assess their level of awareness of tooth avulsion, knowledge and attitude towards pre-hospital care of avulsed tooth. The data generated were analyzed using the SPSS for windows 23.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, USA).The responses were tabulated and expressed as frequency and percentages. Multivariate analysis was used to correct confounding variables. The level of significance was set p< 0.05. Three hundred and twenty four (324) teachers returned their answered questionnaires. Majority of the teachers were females (64.2%) and were between the ages of 41 – 50 years. Most (90.7%) of the teachers were not conversant with the dental terminology “tooth avulsion”. Approximately forty-four percent (43.8%) of the teachers had experienced at least a case of tooth avulsion during their service period. Two hundred and sixty six (82.1%) of teachers had never received any instruction on how to manage avulsed tooth. only 13 (4.0%) of the respondents were aware of a storage/transport media and how to preserve an avulsed tooth. On the attitude of teachers on pre-hospital care of an avulsed tooth; when asked what will they do in a case of tooth avulsion involving their pupil, one hundred and ninety (58.6%) erroneously reported they will do nothing, 33(10.2%) respondents said they will call the child’s parents, none seeing the need to contact the nearest dental clinic. Majority of primary school teachers in Benin City, Nigeria have very inadequate knowledge regarding emergency management of tooth avulsion.. They have limited knowledge regarding the basic tenets of first aid management of tooth avulsion whenever it occurs. Seminars and practical workshop on dental emergency should be organized for teachers and first aid training added to their curriculum.
Keywords: Tooth avulsion, primary school teachers, awareness, knowledge, Benin City
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