IADR Abstract Archives
Expanding the role of oral health practitioners to screen for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in South Africa
Objectives: Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a continuum of disabilities caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. South Africa (SA) has the highest prevalence of FASD globally. Even so, the condition remains underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Oral health practitioners (OHPs) are well positioned to screen for medical conditions at a community level in SA. This study aimed to assess OHPs' knowledge and attitudes towards screening for FASD in SA.
Methods: An online questionnaire was designed based on international questionnaires and adapted to be specific for OHPs in South Africa. The final questionnaire was distributed in July 2022 via email to the various dental schools, dental groups and organisations in SA. Social media was also used for dissemination. Dentists, dental specialists, oral hygienists, dental therapists and final-year students within the aforementioned professions were included as the population of interest. The authors conducted statistical analyses.
Results: Preliminary results show that 96% of OHP respondents believe their scope of practice should be expanded to screen for medical conditions, and 89% thought that this should include FASD. 96% of respondents knew what FASD is, though only 57% knew that SA had the highest reported prevalence of FASD globally. Less than a third (32%) felt confident that they would be able to recognise the cardinal signs of FASD. It was decided to increase data collection to October 2022 to improve the sample's representativeness.
Conclusions: OHPs could potentially play a role in improving the diagnostic rate and access to care for those affected by FASD. Most OHPs sampled are willing to screen for medical conditions, including FASD. However, challenges to screening for FASD include a lack of knowledge about the conditions, uncertainty about whether the public would accept OHPs screening for FASD and the stigmatisation caused by the diagnosis. All respondents were willing to undergo additional training about FASD.
Methods: An online questionnaire was designed based on international questionnaires and adapted to be specific for OHPs in South Africa. The final questionnaire was distributed in July 2022 via email to the various dental schools, dental groups and organisations in SA. Social media was also used for dissemination. Dentists, dental specialists, oral hygienists, dental therapists and final-year students within the aforementioned professions were included as the population of interest. The authors conducted statistical analyses.
Results: Preliminary results show that 96% of OHP respondents believe their scope of practice should be expanded to screen for medical conditions, and 89% thought that this should include FASD. 96% of respondents knew what FASD is, though only 57% knew that SA had the highest reported prevalence of FASD globally. Less than a third (32%) felt confident that they would be able to recognise the cardinal signs of FASD. It was decided to increase data collection to October 2022 to improve the sample's representativeness.
Conclusions: OHPs could potentially play a role in improving the diagnostic rate and access to care for those affected by FASD. Most OHPs sampled are willing to screen for medical conditions, including FASD. However, challenges to screening for FASD include a lack of knowledge about the conditions, uncertainty about whether the public would accept OHPs screening for FASD and the stigmatisation caused by the diagnosis. All respondents were willing to undergo additional training about FASD.