Community water fluoridation support and opposition in Australia

To estimate the level of support for water fluoridation across Australia and examine the association between water fluoridation stance and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, commitment to the stance, and opinions, beliefs and knowledge regarding water fluoridation.

Cross-sectional questionnaire data were obtained from 510 Australian adults (response rate = 34%) in 2008. Data were weighted by age, gender and state and territory estimated resident population.

Participants were asked to rate the strength of their support for or opposition to water fluoridation on a 7-point scale.

Approximately 70% of survey respondents supported water fluoridation, 15.4% were opposed, and 14.5% were neutral. Those strongly opposed were most resistant to altering their opinion on the basis of new information or research. However, approximately 90% of people who were neutral, slightly supportive or moderately supportive would "maybe" or "definitely" change their stance. Fluoridation opposition was associated with lower income and educational attainment, more self-rated knowledge, and with beliefs about reduced benefits and greater harms. Opinions about who should be responsible for the introduction of water fluoridation and sources of information on fluoridation varied significantly by water fluoridation opinion.

While this survey lends further weight to the evidence confirming extensive support for water fluoridation in Australia, a large percentage of the public may be open to changing their stance if presented with new information or research. To maintain the widespread acceptance of water fluoridation, it is important that the public are provided with unbiased and accurate interpretations of the continual stream of research related to fluorides and water fluoridation.