Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to obtain infonnation to increase support to the adjusted water fluoridation program from the residents in Gimhae, Korea. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to the parents of schoolchildren. Their responses were collected from 3,265 citizens in 1998 and 1,551 citizens in 2000. The contents of the questionnaires are related to the kinds of water for drinking and for cooking, the safety of the program and their support for it. All collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 10.0 program. Results: Respondents using the public tap water for cooking was 65.2% in 1998, and 63.7% in 2000, and respondents using the purified water with a water purifier at home for cooking was 15.8% in 1998, and 18.1 % in 2000. Approximately 81 % of the respondents in Gimhae have been proved to ingest the fluoride through food. Concerning the safety of the adjusted water fluoridation program, the response of 'absolutely correct' or 'maybe correct' was 59.6% in 1998, but had increased to 66.2% in 2000. Concerning the continuation of the adjusted water fluoridation program, the response of 'absolutely correct' or 'maybe correct' occupied 72.7% in 1998, and 74.2% in 2000. Conclusions: The approval of the adjusted water fluoridation program has proven to be significantly associated with the residents' gender, and their recognition and acknowledgement of the safety of the adjusted water fluoridation program in both surveys in 1998 and in 2000. In order to secure residents'support for the continuation of the adjusted water fluoridation program, it is necessary to present to the residents the effects of the program and to reinforce the education for safety and economical efficiency for the residents through systemic education.