Oral healthcare provision at long-term care facilities in eThekwini: Perspectives of coordinators
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Oral healthcare provision at long-term care facilities in eThekwini: Perspectives of coordinators | |
| Creator | Balwanth, Sonam Singh, Shenuka | |
| Description | Background: The prevalence and impact of oral disease among long-term institutionalised residents highlight the need for a scale-up of preventive and promotional oral health services that include oral health education and training for caregiving staff. However, opportunities to improve oral healthcare services are met with challenges.Aim: This study was undertaken to establish coordinator perspectives on oral health provision.Setting: Seven long-term care facilities in the eThekwini district, South Africa.Methods: An in-depth exploratory study was conducted with 14 purposively selected coordinators (managers and nurses). Semi-structured interviews were conducted and focused on coordinators’ experience and perspectives on oral healthcare. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: The following themes emerged from the study: A lack of comprehensive oral health care practices, inadequate support from the dental sector, insufficient oral health prioritisation, limited funding for oral health, and challenges associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). All respondents reported that no oral health initiatives existed. Plans for oral health training workshops presented with coordination and funding challenges. Oral health screening initiatives have ceased since COVID-19.Conclusion: The study findings indicated that prioritisation of oral health services was inadequate. There is a need for continual oral health in-service training for caregivers and support from coordinators in guiding the implementation of oral health training programmes.Contribution: It is envisaged that the findings of this study will bring about greater coordinator involvement and collaboration with the public and private dental sectors to improve oral healthcare at long-term care facilities. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2023-06-20 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3884 | |
| Source | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine; Vol 15, No 1 (2023); 10 pages 2071-2936 2071-2928 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3884/6323
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3884/6324
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3884/6325
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3884/6326
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
