Accessibility to oral health care of precarious and non precarious populations in Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract Introduction The purpose of any health system is to guarantee access to care for the entire population served. However, the socio-economic insecurity situation of people in precarious situations, raises the problem of their access to oral health care considered to be expensive. The objective of this study was to compare the dental status and modalities of oral health care use by people in precarious situations to group of non-precarious population in Abidjan, in Côte d’Ivoire. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital Center of Treichville. It concerned all users of the dental office of this hospital. Subjects in precarious situations were identified using a screening tool. Was considered to be in a precarious situation, a person living with less than 1.5 USD/day, having no fixed address, looking for a job, having no health insurance or having difficulties in dealing with medical and pharmaceutical costs. We have identified variables for the modalities of oral health care use and follow-up. The frequencies of these variables were calculated and comparisons were made between subjects in precarious and non- precarious situations using the Chi2 test. Results 256 people participated in the study. The tool for identifying precariousness made it possible to distinguish 128 subjects classified in precarious situations and 128 others in non- precarious situations. The number of missing teeth in people in precarious situations was twice as high as in non-precarious subjects. Renunciation of dental care was more common in the precarious group (46%) than in the non- precarious group (32%). Absenteeism rates at the first two appointments were higher among the precarious (54%) than among the not precarious (46%). Conclusions These results show the need to sensitize the population on the importance of oral health and the establishment of social protection mechanisms to ensure greater accessibility to care for people in precarious situations. Key messages Improving the oral health of populations, especially vulnerable population groups, requires the establishment of social protection mechanisms to remove the financial barrier to access to care. Educating the public about the importance of oral health for overall good health is essential to improving the use of dental care.