Barriers in Seeking Dental Health Care Facilities by the Patients in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Patientsin Pakistan face considerable obstacles due to limited accessto oral health care services,
which are exacerbated by socioeconomic factors such as income and education. Gaining an understanding of
these obstacles is essential to improve the oral health system.

Objective: To determine the factors related to barriers to seeking dental health care facilities among patients
in Pakistan and their association with education and monthly income.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 400 patients used a non-probability convenience sampling method.
Patientsofbothgenderswhowere25yearsof age andolderwere included, andallparticipantsgavewrittenconsent.
The chi-square test found relationships between income, education, and obstacles to accessing dental care (p
< 0.05).
Results: A total of 400 patients aged 25 and older participated in the data collection. Patients encountered
various barriers when seeking dental healthcare facilities, including costly treatment (23.1%), fear of pain
(13.7%), and time constraints (13.7%). Educated patients predominantly faced issues such as time shortages
and appointment-related challenges, whereas illiterate individuals cited treatment costs and fear of pain as
their primary barriers.
Conclusion: Costly treatment, time constraints, and dental procedure fears pose significant barriers to dental
service utilization. These challenges are particularly acute among individuals with lower educational
attainment and income levels.