Awareness of the Fluoride Content of Packaged Waters in Jos

OBJECTIVE: There has been an explosion in the sales of packaged water globally with a low public awareness of the health hazards of excessive fluoride ions. The study determined awareness of the health implications of fluoride concentration in packaged water in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. METHODS: Cross sectional study. Data on the prevalence and reason for the choice of packaged water, and awareness of fluoride content in packaged water was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: There was predominance of the age group 20 - 29 years (44.0%) and males (56.0%) among the 250 respondents. The socio-economic pattern was characterized by high schooling (96.8%). The prevalence of packaged water use was 92.8%; with 44.8%, 16.8% and 38.4%, drinking satchet water, bottled water and satchet/bottled water respectively. None of the subjects gave fluoride content as the reason for their choice of packaged water. However, 66.0% claims to know the importance of fluoride in drinking water. Over one-third of the respondents never checked for the fluoride content of the packaged water purchased. The sources of knowledge of requirement of safe water were from school (31.0%), print and electronic media (25.0%), Non Governmental Organizations (11.8%), public water corporation (15.0%), and hospital (5.6%). There was a significant positive association between importance of fluoride content in packaged water (p=0.034), checking of fluoride content before purchase of packaged water (P=0.034), source of knowledge of requirement (p=0.000) and educational status. CONCLUSION: There is a need to promote the collective awareness on the health implications of fluoride content in packaged waters.