Perception of Dental Patients towards People with Noma.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the perception of dental patients 
towards people with Noma.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted 
among dental patients attending University of Benin 
Teaching Hospital, Benin-City between August and 
October, 2019. Interviewer-administered questionnaire 
which elicited information on demographic characteristics, 
knowledge of the causes, consequences, treatment and 
prevention of Noma as well as the perceived risks of Noma 
was the data collection tool. Data analysis was done using 
IBM SPSS version 21.0.

Results: About one-tenth (11.6%) of the participants had
seen someone with Noma. The majority (94.3%) of the 
participants reported that people with Noma are found 
more in developing countries and 77.1% of the participants 
agreed that people with Noma live in Nigeria. About twothirds (65.7%) of the participants reported that Noma is 
caused by infection and one-fifth (20.0%) of the 
participants stated that Noma occurs mainly in people 
aged 0-10years. The leading consequences of Noma
reported by the participants were eating problems and 
social isolation. About one-quarter (22.9%) of the 
participants thought that Noma cannot be treated and 
77.1% of the participants thoughtthat Noma is preventable
More than three-quarters (85.7%) of the participants 
reported prompt dental check-up and proper feeding as 
the leading ways of preventing Noma. About one-third 
(31.4%) of the participants thought that people with Noma 
are neglected. The participants reported thatNoma occurs
more in people that are malnourished (53.4%), 
incompletely/not vaccinated (34.3%), with dirty mouths 
(60.0%), poor income earners (62.9%), filthy environment 
dwellers (42.9%), members of large families (28.6%), 
member of irresponsible families (20.0%). About one quarter (22.9%) of the participants reported unfriendly 
attitudes toward people with Noma.

Conclusion: Poor understanding of Noma resulted in
unfavourable attitudes which in turn led to social isolation. 
Further nationwide studies are recommended.