Children's drinking water sources in the state of Qatar: parental preferences and knowledge of its fluoride content

Abstract

Purpose: Dental caries remains a major public health concern for children in the State of Qatar. Drinking optimally fluoridated water could be one of the most promising evidence-based approaches to lower caries experience amongst children in the country. The present study aimed to gather information on parental preferences regarding their children's drinking water sources and their knowledge about beneficial trace elements such as fluoride in drinking water. Methods: This cross-sectional perspective study was conducted among parents of school-aged children living in the State of Qatar. A pilot-tested fifteen-question survey was distributed to parents living in the three most populated regions of the country. Descriptive data analysis was carried out to assess parental responses. Results: The survey results showed that the majority of parents (63.9%) preferred commercial bottled water as the principal drinking water source with parental choice based mostly on the water purity. A large majority of parents (82.1%) did not know, or were not sure whether fluoride was present in their drinking water and over half the surveyed parents (51.5%) were not aware of the cariostatic benefits of fluoride in drinking water. Parental knowledge about drinking optimally fluoridated water to improve a child's dental health was positively associated with their education level. Conclusion: The study findings indicate the need to improve parental knowledge of the benefits and safety of children drinking optimally fluoridated water so that they can make informed choices for their children.