Understanding of Socially Vulnerable Individuals on Oral Health and Access to Dentist: A Brazilian Study (original) (raw)
Related papers
Inequalities in oral health practices and social space: An exploratory qualitative study
Health Policy, 2008
This study analyzed the oral health practices and access to dental care of individuals according to their position in social space. The rationale was based on the hypothesis that different positions in social space may imply different habitus, in the sense conferred by Bourdieu. Such dispositions would influence practical behavior, choices and preferences in general and in this context, dental care. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were carried out with individuals, as part of a multiple case study carried out in two municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Differences were found between the two study groups both with respect to actions of personal care and in seeking and using dental services. This, in addition to poor material and living conditions, and difficult access to restorative dental work in the public sector, may explain part of the pattern of tooth loss found in the adult Brazilian population. The adoption of effective communicative and educational actions by health professionals should be stimulated. However, the structural dimension of the social determinants requires transformations in the structures that generate the perceptions and practices of agents. The study discusses the implications of these data to public dental policies that are focused on reducing these inequalities.
The concept of dental vulnerability in Brazil
2021
Objective: To present a concept of dental vulnerability based on the opinion of oral health professionals in Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study performed in two stages: preparation of a questionnaire by literature search and its application with oral health specialists. The data were analyzed by means of Bardin technique and descriptive analysis. Results: A total of 188 professionals from all regions of Brazil responded to the questionnaire. The answers were classified into seven dimensions, conceptualizing dental vulnerability as a set of social, structural, overall health, mental, and oral health factors, in addition to factors involving the health services and public management that influence the health-disease process dynamic. Conclusion: The concept of dental vulnerability produced from the opinions of the professionals from different regions of Brazil allows advancement to new studies on the theme and the development of instruments aiming to measure the phenomenon.
Vulnerability and the psychosocial aspects of tooth loss in old age: a Southern Brazilian study
Journal of cross-cultural gerontology, 2012
Extensive tooth loss and edentulism can have a negative impact on the general health and quality of life of older adults. The extent to which psychological and social factors affect an individual’s decision to undergo tooth extraction and mouth clearance (extraction of all teeth), and the theoretical relationships between social structure, social life and oral health can be unraveled through qualitative research. This study aimed to explore the social and psychological factors involved in tooth extraction and mouth clearance within a historical perspective among rural Southern Brazilian older adults. It is based on qualitative data gathered via a series of eight focus groups among 41 older adults. Underlying the focus group discussions of different levels of health risks and resources for prevention of disease was the concept of vulnerability. Participants’ responses illustrated that tooth loss and mouth clearance were related to a lack of public dental health policies and programs, were influenced by social norms (including values pertaining to gender), and were associated with a low level of oral health knowledge. The social and program-dependent contexts of vulnerability were shown to have played a major role in the development of norms and values towards tooth extraction and mouth clearance. Vulnerability must be reduced in order to prevent disease particularly among rural populations. The influence of fatalistic beliefs about the inevitable loss of teeth with age may negatively influence the acceptance of dental treatment and predilection for oral health self-care.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 2021
Background: Antibiotic resistance affects generations. It is a major health issue. Resistance to antibiotics is on the rise globally. The absence of proper regulatory mechanism and free access to pharmaceutical agents have led to self-medication and inappropriate therapeutic and prophylactic prescription. Methods: Qualitative in-depth research was conducted using focus group discussions (FGDs) for data collection. The study was conducted in an underprivileged colony in Karachi, Pakistan. Community members and Dentist were part of the focus group discussion. Results: There were two major themes that emerged from the analysis. ‘Knowledge associated with common oral diseases and their consequences’ and ‘Home remedies and treatment seeking behavior’. The focus group discussions showed that the perceptions of community members and dentists was based on bad oral hygiene, lack of awareness of oral disease outcome and barriers in pursuing treatment by dentist There was a lack of Government ...
The relevance of oral health for attenders and non-attenders: a qualitative study
BDJ, 2007
Background Low expectations of health mean that oral health becomes a low priority for some people, an appreciation of which would help dentists when a non-attender does come to the surgery. Objective To provide an insight into why oral health is not important to some people and how this attitude might hinder access to dental care. Method In this qualitative study, purposive sampling was used to recruit two groups of participants with sociably visible missing, decayed or broken teeth but apparently differing responses to that status. The data analysis used social systems theory as operationalised by grounded theory techniques. Results The core category that emerged from the data was that people constructed their own 'margins of the relevance' of oral health. For some people oral health was highly relevant whilst for others it was not very relevant. The degree of relevance of oral health was organised along seven dimensions: the perceived 'normal' state of oral health, the perceived causes of oral health and disease, the degree of trust held in dentistry, perceptions of oral 'health' as a commodity, perceptions of the accessibility of oral health care, perceptions of 'natural' oral health and judgements of character. Conclusions If certain aspects of oral health are not relevant, little that is said about those aspects will be meaningful to people. The key is to either emphasize or gently challenge those ideas and beliefs that allow or hinder the margins of relevance.
Saúde e Sociedade, 2018
This paper discusses the characteristics of the oral health subprogram ‘Uruguay Trabaja’ (UT), in Montevideo, and identifies finished, unfinished, and abandoned dental treatments from 2008 to 2015. The implementation of the UT, its characteristics, and the subprogram aimed at oral health are described through documentary analysis. The Program is conceptually discussed according to two categorical levels. The first refers to the macro-social context, related to the expansion of dental care coverage integrated into social protection systems, while the second one is based on the systematic observation of the dental care included in social programs. The UT is a nine-month social program which occurs every year for people between 18 and 65 years old, in social and economic vulnerability situations and unemployed for a long term. It aims at improving employment chances and the participants’ social integration. Comprehensive dental care is one of the benefits of the program, as it is not available at the National Integrated Health System. Of the 2.592 dental treatments initiated, 941 (36,3%) were completed. Focused programs such as the UT should be articulated to universal social policies, which must adequately meet the needs of the entire population. Comprehensive dental care should be included into the National Integrated Health System, to ensure the right to oral health.
Saude E Sociedade, 2018
This paper discusses the characteristics of the oral health subprogram 'Uruguay Trabaja' (UT), in Montevideo, and identifies finished, unfinished, and abandoned dental treatments from 2008 to 2015. The implementation of the UT, its characteristics, and the subprogram aimed at oral health are described through documentary analysis. The Program is conceptually discussed according to two categorical levels. The first refers to the macro-social context, related to the expansion of dental care coverage integrated into social protection systems, while the second one is based on the systematic observation of the dental care included in social programs. The UT is a nine-month social program which occurs every year for people between 18 and 65 years old, in social and economic vulnerability situations and unemployed for a long term. It aims at improving employment chances and the participants' social integration. Comprehensive dental care is one of the benefits of the program, as it is not available at the National Integrated Health System. Of the 2.592 dental treatments initiated, 941 (36,3%) were completed. Focused programs such as the UT should be articulated to universal social policies, which must adequately meet the needs of the entire population. Comprehensive dental care should be included into the National Integrated Health System, to ensure the right to oral health.
Oral health in Brazil – historical dimension (Atena Editora)
Oral health in Brazil – historical dimension (Atena Editora), 2023
Oral health is directly related to social inclusion and human dignity. The article aims to identify the historical dimension of oral health in Brazil. The study methodology is qualitative, analytical, deductive research. It was adopted to carry out an integrative bibliographical review. The results prove that promoting oral health is the duty of the State and represents a rescue of dignity and citizenship. Dentistry can contribute to an increase in social inclusion; therefore, it is necessary to use methods that prevent and combat oral diseases, especially dental caries. The conclusion of the study reports that poorly conducted oral health produces low self-esteem and poor quality of life in citizens. Poor oral health, therefore, represents a clear sign of a precarious living condition, as well as discrimination and social exclusion.
Social Responsibility and Oral Health Disparities: A constructivist approach
. Social responsibility and oral health disparities: A constructivist approach, in Jozef Welie (Ed.) Justice in Oral Health, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Marquette University Press who have the political and economic influence to inform policies and decisions affecting the dental health care system are ones who will control the discourse. We seek therefore to confront taken-for-granted assumptions and to examine critically dentistry's role in addressing social responsibility and oral health care for disadvantaged populations. Our intent is not to make global truth statements about social responsibility, but to describe ways this concept is addressed within particular social contexts and social realities. We present various constructs of social responsibility through the contexts within which dentists work and live, both of which are influenced by related underlying and prevailing ideologies, values, beliefs, and social practices. We acknowledge that no individual speaks entirely free of their social and cultural context and affiliations. As a consequence, any construction of the concept of social responsibility is, in part, that of the individual, the profession, and also part of a larger societal discourse.
Oral health in Brazil – historical dimension
International Journal of Health Science
Oral health is directly related to social inclusion and human dignity. The article aims to identify the historical dimension of oral health in Brazil. The study methodology is qualitative, analytical, deductive research. It was adopted to carry out an integrative bibliographical review. The results prove that promoting oral health is the duty of the State and represents a rescue of dignity and citizenship. Dentistry can contribute to an increase in social inclusion; therefore, it is necessary to use methods that prevent and combat oral diseases, especially dental caries. The conclusion of the study reports that poorly conducted oral health produces low self-esteem and poor quality of life in citizens. Poor oral health, therefore, represents a clear sign of a precarious living condition, as well as discrimination and social exclusion.