Prepared by Margo EyesonAnnan New South Wales Health Survey Program, Centre for Epidemiology and Res

1
Results for the Fluoridation Questions from the
NSW Population Survey
Prepared by Margo Eyeson-AnnanNew South Wales
Health Survey Program, Centre for Epidemiology
and Research New South Wales Department of
Health March 2006
2
Background

• Since 1997 the NSW Centre for Epidemiology and
  Research has conducted the NSW Population Health
  Survey.
• The survey is an ongoing telephone survey of
  state residents conducted to monitor changes over
  time in self-reported health behaviours, health
  status, health service use, satisfaction with
  health services, and other factors that influence
  health
• Collect data from approximately 12,000 residents
  annually
• In September 2005 questions on fluoridation were
  added to the NSW Population Health Survey

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Fluoridation Questions

• Question 1 Has fluoride been added to your
  public water supply?
• Question 2a Do you agree with adding fluoride to
  your public water supply
• to try and prevent teeth
  decaying?
• Question 2b Would you be in favour of adding
  fluoride to your water supply
• to try and prevent teeth
  decaying In children, in adults or both?
• Question3 Where have you received information
  on water fluoridation?
• Question4 Who should decide on the
  fluoridation of water supplies?

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Respondents

• 2084 adults aged 16 years and over completed the
  health survey from September 2005 to December
  2005.
• There were approximately 250 respondents from
  each area health service.
• This sample was then weighted to adjust for
  differences in the probabilities of selection
  among subjects, and for differences between the
  age and sex structure of the sample and
  Australian Bureau of Statistics mid-year
  population estimates for New South Wales. This
  enables calculation of prevalence estimates for
  the population rather than for the respondents
  selected.

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Fluoride added to public water supply , persons
aged 16 years and over, NSW 2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 2,084 respondents in
NSW. For this indicator 0 (0.0) were refused in
NSW. The question used was 'Has fluoride been
added to your public water supply?
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Agree with having fluoride added to water supply
persons who have fluoride added to their water
supply aged 16 years and over, NSW 2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 1,010 respondents in
NSW. For this indicator 118 (10.46) were not
stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW. The
questions used were 'Has fluoride been added to
your public water supply' and if the respondent
answered Yes, then was asked 'Do you agree with
adding fluoride to your public water supply to
try and prevent teeth decaying?'.
7
Agree with adding fluoride to water supply to
prevent teeth decaying, persons without fluoride
added to their water supply aged 16 years and
over, NSW 2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 763 respondents in
NSW. For this indicator 193 (20.19) were not
stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW. The
questions used were 'Has fluoride been added to
your public water supply?' and if the respondent
answered No, Don't know or Refused was then asked
'Would you be in favour of adding fluoride to
your water supply to try and prevent teeth
decaying In children, in adults or both ?'.
8
Agree with adding fluoride to water supply by age
and sex, persons aged 16 years and over, NSW
2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 1,773 respondents in
NSW. For this indicator 311 (14.92) were not
stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW The
indicator includes those who either agree with or
would agree to having fluoride added to their
water supply.
9
Agree with adding fluoride to water supply by age
and sex, persons aged 16 years and over, NSW
2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 1,773 respondents in
NSW. For this indicator 311 (14.92) were not
stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW The
indicator includes those who either agree with or
would agree to having fluoride added to their
water supply.
10
Agree with adding fluoride to water supply by age
and sex, persons aged 16 years and over, NSW
2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 1,773 respondents in
NSW. For this indicator 311 (14.92) were not
stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW The
indicator includes those who either agree with or
would agree to having fluoride added to their
water supply.
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Places received information on water fluoridation
, persons aged 16 years and over, NSW 2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 1,875 respondents in
NSW. For this indicator 167 (8.18) were not
stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW. The
question used was 'Where have you received
information on water fluoridation?'. Respondents
could mention more than one response. Percentages
will total more than 100.
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Responsible body for decisions on fluoridation ,
persons aged 16 years and over, NSW 2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 1,804 respondents in
NSW. For this indicator 238 (11.66) were not
stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW. The
question used was 'Who should decide on the
fluoridation of water supplies?'. Respondents
could mention more than one response. Percentages
will total more than 100.
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Comparison NSW and North Coast Results, persons
aged 16 years and over, 2005
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Oral Health

• Information on oral health is also collected
  through the NSW Population Health Survey and
  through the routine data collections such as
  hospitals.
• Provide two examples by health area
• All natural teeth missing
• Hospital separations for dental conditions

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All natural teeth missing by health area and sex,
persons aged 16 years and over, NSW 2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 11,424 respondents
in NSW. For this indicator 0 (0) were not
stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW The
indicator includes those respondents who had all
of their natural teeth missing. The question used
to define the indicator was 'Are any of your
natural teeth missing? (Natural teeth does not
include dentures but includes wisdom teeth)'.
16
Hospital separations for dental conditions by sex
and health area, NSW 200-2003
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North Coast

• 264 respondents who answered the questions were
  from the North Coast AHS

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Fluoride added to public water supply , persons
in North Coast AHS aged 16 years and over, NSW
2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 264 respondents in
in North Coast AHS. For this indicator 0 (0.0)
were refused in in North Coast AHS. The question
used was 'Has fluoride been added to your public
water supply?
19
Places received information on water
fluoridation, persons in North Coast AHS aged
16 years and over, NSW 2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 242 respondents in
North Coast AHS. For this indicator 17 (6.56)
were not stated (Don't know or Refused) in
North Coast AHS. The question used was 'Where
have you received information on water
fluoridation?'. Respondents could mention more
than one response. Percentages will total more
than 100.
20
Responsible body for decisions on fluoridation,
persons in North Coast AHS aged 16 years and
over, NSW 2005
NOTE Estimates are based on 231 respondents in
North Coast AHS. For this indicator 28 (10.81)
were not stated (Don't know or Refused) in
North Coast AHS. The question used was 'Who
should decide on the fluoridation of water
supplies?'. Respondents could mention more than
one response. Percentages will total more than
100.