attrition of dental therapists in South Africa—A 42-year review

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 KwaZulu-Natal (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.