Date of Award

1-2020

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Policy and Management

First Advisor

Muhammad Masood Kadir

Second Advisor

Miss. Nousheen Pradhan

Third Advisor

Mr. Atif Riaz

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: The major barriers to improving Dental health and the prevention and management of dental diseases globally are the inequality between urban and rural communities. The population living in rural areas tends to have poor dental health. Generally, all over the world, the resources with respect to essential dental health services are not sufficient in rural areas compared to urban areas. The condition of Pakistan concerning the disparity between rural and urban areas is no different from the rest of the world. It, in fact, is worse as it is a country with a low-income economy, and hence, dental health is naturally given much less importance due to financial constraints. There is less information on the availability and accessibility of dental health services with respect to rural parts of Pakistan. Study objectives: This study aimed to explore the availability and accessibility of Dental health services in district Thatta.
Methodology: The study used a qualitative exploratory research design. Data were collected through key informant interviews with purposive sampled dental health professionals in district Thatta. Using a semi-structured guide, interviews were conducted with district health officers, dentists, medical superintendent, technicians, and general staff, including dental assistants, etc. The desk review of the policy documents was done to get maximum information regarding current dental health services. Data were analyzed using a thematic content analysis approach.
Results: The major themes that were identified included common dental health ailment; The public's common dental health issues in Thatta include stains, sensitivity, tooth pain, mouth cancers, gums bleeding, and accidents (trauma to the teeth). Another major theme that was identified from the findings was the strategies to improve dental health services. It was essential to list down ways to rectify this grave issue, and the steps included good human resources, more funding, better services, good political support, etc. Finally, another theme considered was access to dental health services (availability and accessibility)—unavailability of many services such as prosthodontics, orthodontics, and maxillofacial surgery. The desk review of the documents revealed no current policy present that focuses entirely on dental health and its services.
Conclusion: Various basic dental health services are lacking at the primary and secondary level in rural district Thatta of Sindh. Identified factors include delay in funds, lack of human iv resources, and overburden. This study excavated the basic gaps that are present in rural areas of Sindh. There is an immense need for better policies; such policies can cater to dental health services and create an urge for its awareness at the district level.

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1

Last Page

57

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