Children's access to oral healthcare during COVID-19 in Türkiye-Izmir
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2024
Yazarlar: Sevgi Arabulan, Rüştü Özant Önçağ, Zeliha Aslı Öcek
International Dental Journal, Uluslararası, Wos, 2024, cilt 74, ss S90-S90
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2024.07.844
Özet
The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of access to oral care for children aged 0-13 years during the COVID-19 pandemic restriction period. This study used a mixed-method approach. Cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 children who visited Ege University Pediatric Dental Clinics during COVID-19 pandemic. Access is defined as being able to receive oral healthcare to solve the existing dental problem. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 parents of children who experienced barriers to access to oral healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was performed. During the pandemic, 62.3% of applications to dental institutions failed to access the services. Parental education, employment status, and household income significantly affected access (p<0.005). Applying to university clinics and private institutions led to 4.78 and 4.33 times higher access rates than public dental centers. Father's regular job and past contact with a dentist increased the possibility of access by 3.39 and 2.37 times (p<0.005). Risk of getting infection and income loss were pandemic related barriers. Qualitative findings highlighted institutional barriers in public dental centers. Children with disabilities faced further challenges due to their risk of infection, difficulty in reaching institutions, and unmet dental need for treatment under general anesthesia. The most common barriers were those related to the availability of services. Access rates were lower in public dental centers. Higher socioeconomic status and past contact with a dentist positively affected access. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted oral healthcare inequalities, particularly for children with disabilities in Türkiye.