Factors Affecting Access to Oral Health Care among Adults in Abha City, Saudi Arabia

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the self-reported access problems to dental care among adults in Abha city, KSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among adults in Abha city, Saudi Arabia. A structured, close-ended, self-administered questionnaire elicited the access and utilization of dental care among a sample of adults. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 statistical software. The descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed to predict the variables associated with access and utilization of dental care. RESULTS: A total of 499 adults (male = 270, female = 229) participated in the study. More than half (289, 57.9%) of the participants utilized dental services and emergency services (283, 56.7%) were the most common reason to visit dentist. For most of the participants (281, 57.1%), the last dental visit was less than 1 year. Majority (409, 82%) of the participants self-funded for their treatment in private dental clinics (382, 76.6%). More than half (258, 51.7%) of the participants received restorative treatment during their last visit to dentist. Cost (39.1%) and lack of time (28.7%) were the main barriers to accessing dental care. Education and income were all involved in predicting nonutilization of dental services among the study participants. CONCLUSION: Access to and utilization of dental care are the multidimensional concepts influenced by many factors. Cost and lack of time were the predominant barriers to utilization of dental services. Access to dental care is a multidimensional issue with education and income, were considered as the significant predictors of nonutilization of dental services. Similarly, income and transportation problems significantly predicted the use of private dental services. Marital status, transportation problem, health problems, and difficulty in movement were all concerned with multiple barriers to accessing dental services among the study participants.