scholarly journals Barriers to the access of oral health care facilities among adults: an exploratory study from Lahore

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (03) ◽  
pp. 105-109
Author(s):  
Shehla J. Akram ◽  
Raheela Yasmin ◽  
Saira Atif ◽  
Asadullah Rathore ◽  
Omair Anjum ◽  
...  

Background: Oral health is one of the key indicators of the quality of life, overall health and well‑being of the general population. Globally, the high prevalence of the periodontal disease, excessive tooth loss, dental caries experiences, oral cancers and xerostomia are the major issues reported among adult populations. Timely access to oral healthcare facilities preserves the function, morbidity and mortality. The best possible health outcomes are only possible if the personal health care services are accessible timely. So, the primary objective of this study was to explore the barriers to the access of oral health care facilities among adults. In addition, the study also determined the association between adult’s demographic factors and their visits to dental clinics.  Subjects and methods: This exploratory study was conducted for two months between November 2019 and January 2020. The study recruited 400 adults including 200 males and 200 females visiting outpatient department (OPD) of public hospital i.e. Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Participants were included in this study if they were 18 years of age or older and had provided written informed consent before data collection. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire whereas barriers to access the oral healthcare facilities was confirmed by asking an open-ended question. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to calculate descriptive statistics (i.e., mean, standard deviation, percentages). The study also determined the association between sociodemographic factors of adults and their tendency to visit dental clinics just for routine checkups using the chi-square test. Results: The average age of the participants was 36.81±9.29 years ranged from 18 – 63 years. Of the 400 participants, 259 (64.75%) reported costly treatment as a barrier affecting access to oral healthcare facilities followed by difficulty in access to dental clinics (27.75%) and fear of the pain of dental procedures (20.25%). Only 52 (13%) adults were regularly visiting dental clinics for routine check-ups whereas 21 (5.25%) respondents never had been to the dentist throughout their life. Nearly, half of the respondents i.e. 189 (47.25%) stated that dental care expenditures were borne by them and none of them was health insured. Statistically, a significant association was found between demographics (i.e. education, rural background and income) and the tendency to visit the dental clinics (p<0.05). Conclusion: Expensive treatment, difficulty in accessing dental facilities and fear from dental procedures are the major barriers to the utilization of dental services. Access to dental clinics for routine check-ups is significantly influenced by sociodemographic factors.

Author(s):  
Lizaldo MAIA ◽  
Sharmênia NUTO ◽  
Maria SAINTRAIN ◽  
Ana Patrícia MORAIS ◽  
Fabricio SOUSA ◽  
...  

The article's abstract is no available.  


Author(s):  
Behrad Pourmohammadi ◽  
Ahad Heydari ◽  
Farin Fatemi ◽  
Ali Modarresi

Abstract Objectives: Iran is exposed to a wide range of natural and man-made hazards. Health-care facilities can play a significant role in providing life-saving measures in the minutes and hours immediately following the impact or exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the preparedness of health-care facilities in disasters and emergencies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Damghan, Semnan Province, in 2019. The samples consisted of all the 11 health-care facilities located in Damghan County. A developed checklist was used to collect the data, including 272 questions in 4 sections: understanding threatening hazards, functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability of health-care facilities. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: The results revealed that the health-care facilities were exposed to 22 different natural and man-made hazards throughout the county. The total level of preparedness of the health-care centers under assessment was 45.8%. The average functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability was assessed at 49.3%, 31.6%, and 56.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Conducting mitigation measures is necessary for promoting the functional and structural preparedness. Disaster educational programs and exercises are recommended among the health staff in health-care facilities.


Author(s):  
Alexandro Pinto ◽  
Luciana Sepúlveda Köpcke ◽  
Renata David ◽  
Hannah Kuper

Poor accessibility of healthcare facilities is a major barrier for people with disabilities when seeking care. Yet, accessibility is rarely routinely audited. This study reports findings from the first national assessment of the accessibility of primary health care facilities, undertaken in Brazil. A national accessibility audit was conducted by trained staff of all 38,812 primary healthcare facilities in Brazil in 2012, using a 22-item structured questionnaire. An overall accessibility score was created (22 items), and three sub-scales: external accessibility (eight items), internal accessibility (eight items), information accessibility (six items). The main finding is that the overall accessibility score of primary care facilities in Brazil was low (mean of 22, standard deviation (SD) of 0.21, on a 0–100 scale). Accessibility of different aspects of the healthcare facilities was also low, including external space (mean = 31.0, SD = 2.0), internal space (18.9, 1.9) and accessibility features for people with other visual or hearing impairments (6.3, SD = 1.0). Scores were consistently better in the least poor regions of Brazil and in facilities in larger municipality size (indicating more urban areas). In conclusion, large-scale accessibility audits are feasible to undertake. Poor accessibility means that people with disabilities will experience difficulties in accessing healthcare, and this is a violation of their rights according to international and Brazilian laws.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Dewa Ayu Ketut Sri Abadi ◽  
Dewa Nyoman Wirawan ◽  
Anak Agung Sagung Sawitri ◽  
I Gusti Ayu Trisna Windiani

Background and purpose: Period prevalence of pneumonia among children in Indonesia increased from 2.1 in 2007 to 2.7 per 1000 children in 2013. The highest incidence was found among children aged 12-23 months. This study aims to examine association between delayed access to health care facilities and severity of children pneumonia.Methods: A case control study was conducted in Denpasar City. A total of 132 children were recruited to participate in this study, consisted of 44 cases and 88 controls. Cases were selected from 161 children with severe pneumonia who registered at Pulmonology Department of Sanglah General Hospital between January 2015 to April 2016. Controls were selected from 261 children aged 12-59 months with mild pneumonia who visited out-patient service at all community health centres in Denpasar City between January 2015 and April 2016. Cases and controls were matched by sex. Data were collected by interview with the parents in their houses. Data were analysed using multivariate analysis with logistic regression.Results: Risk factors associated to severity of pneumonia among children aged 12-59 months were delayed access to treatment for more than three days (AOR=2.15;95%CI: 1.39-3.32), non-health care facilities at first episode of illness (AOR=4.02; 95%CI: 1.53-10.61) and frequent episodes of respiratory infections (>4 times) over the last 6 months (AOR=5.45; 95%CI: 2.13-13.96).Conclusion: Delayed access to treatment, did not access healthcare facilities at first episode of illness, and high frequency of acute respiratory infections are risk factors of severe pneumonia among children.


Author(s):  
Ahmed Bhayat ◽  
Usuf Chikte

To describe the current oral health care needs and the number and category of dental personnel required to provide necessary services in South Africa (SA). This is a review of the current disease burden based on local epidemiological studies and the number of oral health personnel registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). In SA, oral health services are rendered by oral hygienists, dental therapists, dentists, and dental specialists. Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent conditions, and much of them are untreated. The majority of oral care providers are employed in the private sector even though the majority of the population access the public sector which only offers a basic package of oral care. The high prevalence of caries could be prevented and treated by the public sector. The infrastructure at primary health care facilities needs to be improved so that dentists performing community service can be more effectively utilized. At present, SA requires more dental therapists and oral hygienists to be trained at the academic training institutions.


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