Attrition of dental therapists in South Africa—A 42-year review
Loading...
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Abstract
Introduction: Dental therapists are mid-level oral healthcare providers introduced in
1977 to the South African health system to improve access to oral health services.
There has, however, been anecdotal evidence of their unusually high rate of attrition
that is cause for concern.
Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the demographic profile and attrition rate among members of the South African Dental Therapy profession.
Methods: A retrospective time series review of records of all dental therapists who
were previously registered and who are still registered with the Health Professions
Council of South Africa (HPCSA) between 1977 and 2019 was conducted.
Results: A total of 1232 dental therapists were registered from 1977 to 2019. The majority (64%) were Africans. Most practicing dental therapists were based in KwaZuluNatal (44%) and Gauteng (27%), which are the provinces where dental therapists are
trained. The overall attrition rate between 1977 and 2019 was 40%, with a figure of
9% for the last 10 years of the study (2010 to 2019).
Conclusion: This study has provided the first evidence of the high attrition rate of
dental therapists in South Africa. The high attrition warrants further investigation
to address the loss of valuable human resources from an already overburdened and
under-resourced public oral health sector
Description
Keywords
dental therapy profession, health staff attrition, human resource for health, staff turnover in South Africa
Citation
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12832