Gender and race distribution of dental graduates (1985 - 2004) and first year dental students (2000 - 2005) in South Africa

This paper, written at the close of a decade of democracy in South Africa, sets out to analyse the demographic profile of dental graduates from 1985-2004 at the five Faculties/Schools of Dentistry in South Africa. A comparison of the profiles for the pre-democracy (1985-1994) and post-apartheid (1995-2004) periods has been made. The demographic profile of first year dental students from 2000-2005 is also presented. From 1985-1994, most dental graduates were male (79%), but this changed substantially from 1995-2004, with females comprising 46% of those graduating. In the pre-democracy period, more than three-quarters of all graduates were White (78%), decreasing to 46% in the post-apartheid period under review. Black graduates increased from 6% to 24% across the two study periods. Amongst the first year dental student intake from 2000- 2005, females comprised 57%. There was an almost equal distribution across the White, Black and Asian groups. Dental faculties/schools have made important strides in transforming the demographic profile of their students. The percentage of Black graduates, however, needs to be significantly increased if it is to reflect the national population. Faculties/schools must further ensure that able students from working class background are identified and considered for acceptance into the undergraduate dental programme, and should then be offered the necessary academic and mentoring support to enable success

Bydrae van mondpatologie tot die geneeskunde

Oral pathology has a definite role to play in the medical field, especially in the clinical and histological diagnosis of conditions presenting in the oral cavity. However, oral pathology is already preforming a much wider function in general medicine - a function which can be extended still further. It embraces, amongst others, close co-operation with medical colleagues in the management of genetic diseases, cancer (including the prevention of cancer and the management of patients already receiving radio-therapy), the treatment of geriatric patients (the aged), and work in the field of forensic medicine. The Department of Oral Pathology is faced with an enormous challenge in its efforts to limit the number of cases presenting with oral cancer. This condition is responsible for a notable percentage of cancer deaths and includes types which drastically shorten the life expectancy of patients. What makes the situation even more serious is that up to 90% of oral cancers are closely associated with environmental factors which can easily be identified and eliminated if only the public were made more aware of their existance. Moreover, a high percentage of oral cancers can be successfully treated, provided they are diagnosed at an early stage. In order to reduce the incidence of oral cancer, The Department of Oral Pathology sees it as its primary task to engender in the public mind an awareness of oral cancer, and in particular to motivate the "high risk" patient to assess his own situation. Several research programmes have already been undertaken in the Department of Oral Pathology. The goal for the future, in addition to basic research, is to lay more emphasis on clinical research. It is hoped that, by doing so, a greater contribution will be made to both the medical and dental health of the community. Extensive programmes have already been planned in this connection, such as thorough clinical testing of materials and medicaments that are used in dentistry. Other research programmes planned for the future include work on specific oral infections, and more particularly an investigation into the background and causes of oral cancer.p.19-25 : Publikasies van die Universiteit van Pretoria (Nuwe Reeks)http://explore.up.ac.za/record=b178825

Gender and race distribution of dental graduates (1985-2004) and first year dental students (2000-2005) in South Africa.

This paper, written at the close of a decade of democracy in South Africa, sets out to analyse the demographic profile of dental graduates from 1985-2004 at the five Faculties/Schools of Dentistry in South Africa. A comparison of the profiles for the pre-democracy (1985-1994) and post-apartheid (1995-2004) periods has been made. The demographic profile of first year dental students from 2000-2005 is also presented. From 1985-1994, most dental graduates were male (79%), but this changed substantially from 1995-2004, with females comprising 46% of those graduating. In the pre-democracy period, more than three-quarters of all graduates were White (78%), decreasing to 46% in the post-apartheid period under review. Black graduates increased from 6% to 24% across the two study periods. Amongst the first year dental student intake from 2000-2005, females comprised 57%. There was an almost equal distribution across the White, Black and Asian groups. Dental faculties/schools have made important strides in transforming the demographic profile of their students. The percentage of Black graduates, however, needs to be significantly increased if it is to reflect the national population. Faculties/schools must further ensure that able students from working class background are identified and considered for acceptance into the undergraduate dental programme, and should then be offered the necessary academic and mentoring support to enable success