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African Health Sciences
Makerere University Medical School
ISSN: 1680-6905 EISSN: 1680-6905
Vol. 12, No. 4, 2012, pp. 507-513
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Bioline Code: hs12086
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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African Health Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 4, 2012, pp. 507-513
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Barriers to oral health care utilization in Ibadan, South West Nigeria
Ajayi, DM & Arigbede, AO
Abstract
Background: Barriers to oral health utilization are many, but those that are significant for our environment are not yet clear.
The current study was designed to identify and graduate the barriers to receipt of oral health care among a cross-section of
patients attending our centre. We also investigated the influence of socio demographic factors on the highly rated barriers.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients visiting UCH, Ibadan using a self-administered
questionnaire. Socio-demographic variables and oral health care seeking behaviour were requested and in addition, the
respondents were asked to rank 11 listed barriers to receipt of oral health care and any other barriers they may think of in
order of strength. Factor analysis was employed in order to identify four factors with the highest loading. The mean scores
were compared using t-test and one-way ANOVA and the level of significance was set at 0.05
Results: Only 400 questionnaires were properly filled (84.9%) out of the 471 that were administered. The mean age of these
participants was 37.85±15.38 years. Most of the respondents (55.8%) consulted the dentists only when there was pain while
109(27.3%) had never visited the dentist. Fear of dental injection, cost of treatment, feeling of insecurity when the dentist
is operating and disturbing noise from dental drill were the major barriers. There was a statistically significant association
between age groups and feeling of insecurity (p=006).
Conclusion: The major barriers to oral health care utilization among our patients were fear related.
Keywords
Barriers, dental anxiety, oral health care
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