Dental service utilization by seropositive adults at community health aids initiative clinic in Kampala International University-Teaching Hospital, Bushenyi district
Loading...
Date
2018-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
This research report presents findings of a hospital based exploratory and cross sectional study on dental service utilization among 131 seropositive adults in Community Health AIDS Initiative Clinic at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Bushenyi District. The central problem of the study were issues associated with the utilization of dental services by seropositive patients, who suffer a preponderance of oral manifestations, and whose need for oral healthcare may be greater than the general population. The study was concerned that, despite the problem of seropositive patients having more unmet oral needs they continue to face limited access to oral healthcare. The general objective of the study was to find out utilization of dental services by enrolled seropositive adult patients at KIU-TH. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influence of caregivers’ oral health perceptions and cultural beliefs, the impact of socioeconomic factors, and the significance of structural factors in the utilization of oral healthcare; to determine barriers to dental service utilization among this cohort. The study was guided by the health services utilization model. The findings of the study indicate that, seropositive patients have prevailing perceptions and cultural beliefs about oral health which are holistic and woven into the social and cultural fabric of their daily lives and influence the utilization of oral healthcare. Two, the socio-economic circumstances of the seropositive patients such as low income levels and lack of social health insurance have a compounding effect on the low utilization of oral healthcare. Finally, structural factors and characteristics of the healthcare system are significant in selecting an oral health provider. It can, therefore, be concluded that a patient’s decision to utilize oral healthcare is a composite of perceptions and cultural beliefs on oral health and dental illnesses, effect of contextual societal factors, and innate characteristics of the healthcare system. Additionally, the patients perceive the cost of services and access to oral healthcare to be prohibitive and this, coupled with low enrollment with social health insurance, constitutes major barriers to the timely utilization of oral healthcare by adult seropositive patients…
Description
A research report submitted to Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of a degree of in Dental Surgery of Kampala International University
Keywords
Dental service utilization, Seropositive adults, Community health aids initiative clinic, Kampala International University-Teaching Hospital