Alwadi, M.A., AlJameel, A.H., Baker, S.R. orcid.org/0000-0002-2861-451X et al. (1 more author) (2024) Facilitating oral healthcare for children with disabilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a qualitative exploration of the perceptions of parents and professionals. BMC Oral Health, 24. 1526.
Abstract
Background Children with disabilities worldwide experience disparities in oral health. Parents and children encounter challenges in accessing quality dental care. Similar challenges are experienced in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of oral healthcare for children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Methods This was an ethnographic study. The sample size was 25 participants, comprising of 12 pediatric dentists and 13 parents of children with disabilities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, employing a topic guide. A pre-defined analytical framework was developed from the study objectives and framework analysis used to analyse data.
Results The study identified significant barriers and facilitators to oral healthcare for children with disabilities. Barriers included long travel distances, inadequate clinic facilities, a shortage of specialist pediatric dentists, inefficiencies in referral systems, and financial constraints. Other challenges were related to physical barriers in clinics, cultural norms, and socioeconomic inequalities. Facilitators, though fewer, included personal connections, specialized disability friendly clinics, and the Priority Card Program, albeit with limited effectiveness. Suggestions for improvement highlighted the need for better training for dental professionals, enhanced clinic accessibility, and greater financial support for families.
Conclusion Accessibility of dental care for children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia remains a significant challenge due to systemic barriers and individual-level obstacles. The study underscores the need for policy reforms, enhanced professional training, and the improvement of physical and financial accessibility to dental services. Addressing these issues through comprehensive educational programs and targeted interventions is essential for reducing oral health disparities and improving care for children with disabilities.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Authors. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. |
Keywords: | Access; Disability; Children; Oral healthcare; Dental care; Saudi Arabia |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Clinical Dentistry (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 10 Jan 2025 10:53 |
Last Modified: | 10 Jan 2025 10:53 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-05344-w |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1186/s12903-024-05344-w |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:221269 |