Fluoride concentration in drinking water samples in Fiji.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to determine the content of fluoride in drinking water from sources within the sampling areas for the National Oral Health Survey (NOHS) 2011 from the Central, Northern, Western and Eastern Divisions in the Fiji Islands. METHOD: Drinking water samples were collected from taps, a waterfall, wells, creeks, streams, springs, rivers, boreholes and rain water tanks in a diverse range of rural and urban areas across the Fiji Islands. A total of 223 areas were sampled between December 2014 and June 2015. Samples were analysed for fluoride using a colorimetric assay with the Zirconyl-SPADNS Reagent. The samples were pre-treated with sodium arsenite solution prior to analysis to eliminate interference from chlorine. RESULTS: Measured fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 0.35 ppm, with a mean concentration across all samples of 0.03 + 0.04 ppm. No samples achieved the optimal level for caries prevention (0.7 ppm). The Western Division had the highest fluoride levels compared to the other Divisions. The highest single fluoride concentration was found in Valase. The drinking water for this rural area located in the Western Division is from a borehole. The lowest concentrations of fluoride were in reticulated water samples from rural areas in the Central Division, which were consistently less than those recorded in the Northern, Eastern and Western Divisions. CONCLUSION: All samples had fluoride concentrations below the optimum level required to prevent dental caries. Implications for public health: This research forms part of the objectives of the 2011 National Oral Health Survey in Fiji. At present, Fiji lacks water fluoridation and therefore a baseline of the fluoride content in drinking water supplies is essential before water fluoridation is implemented. The results from this study would be beneficial in designing caries-preventive strategies through water fluoridation and for comparing those strategies with caries prevalence overtime.

Preterm low birth weights associated with periodontal disease in the Fiji Islands.

AIM: To determine any association between pre-term low birth weight (PTLBW) neonates and periodontal disease during the mother's pregnancy. DESIGN: A multi-centered prospective case cohort study. SETTING: Ante-natal clinics at the Colonial War Memorial and Lautoka Hospitals, Fiji from 1st January to 30th June 2004. PARTICIPANTS: 670 multiethnic pregnant women. METHODS: Participants were interviewed to identify confounding variables--medical conditions, smoking, alcohol consumption, maternal age and history of preterm birth. Oral examination was conducted and included the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Delivery outcome was recorded for each woman. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 25.80 +/- 5.56 years. 1.9% (n=13) women delivered preterm babies. More than 50% of this group displayed moderate to severe periodontitis compared with 13% of women who had a normal delivery. Preterm birth was also associated with the mother having had a previous preterm birth and who was more likely to be Indo-Fijian (p < 0.01). There was no significant association with where the mother lived; however, rural women with PTLBW babies had more severe periodontal disease (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There is a highly significant association between pre-term birth and moderate to severe periodontal disease (p = 0.0001).

Attitude/practices of oral healthcare provider to management of HIV/AIDS patients in the Pacific.

This paper expands a quantitative study which measured dentists attitudes, practices, knowledge, education, policies towards HIV positive patients in the Pacific region in order to identify potential barriers to the provision of adequate dental treatment. 300 questionnaires were sent out to all the 14 countries in the region. However, only the following six countries responded Fiji, Solomons, Vanuatu, Samoa, FSM, and Cook Islands of which 91.6% worked for the government sector, 4.2% respondents for academic and 4.2% were private oral health care providers (OHCP). These were 32.6% of dentists and 67.4% Paradentals. Results of the research showed that the major reasons for the unwillingness among oral health care providers mainly described fear of HIV transmission in dental clinics, inadequate infection control procedures in the clinics to prevent cross transmission or lacked knowledge about HIV patient management in dental clinics. There is a need for continuing education on management of HIV/AIDS positive dental patients covering such areas as management, infection control, policies, education and ethical issues concerning HIV positive patients for oral health care providers in the South Pacific region. Limitations of study: Since this is an incomplete (six countries responded out of fourteen countries) survey, generalization on attitudes and practices of OHCP in the Pacific can not be made yet. Also, larger sample is required to make definite conclusion about oral health care practices in the Pacific.