TY - JOUR
T1 - Access to oral health care for undocumented migrants
T2 - Perspectives of actors involved in a voluntary dental network in the Netherlands
AU - van Midde, Myrthe
AU - Hesse, Iris
AU - van der Heijden, Geert J.M.G.
AU - Duijster, Denise
AU - van Elteren, Marianne
AU - Kroesen, Margreet
AU - Agyemang, Charles
AU - Beune, Erik
N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Global Health section of the Amsterdam Public Health Academic Research Institute. We gratefully thank the undocumented migrants, dentists and NGO staff members who participated in the interviews for this study. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - Objective: Undocumented migrants in Europe face multiple barriers in access to oral health care. This study aimed to explore the accessibility of a voluntary dental network providing dental treatments to undocumented migrants in the Netherlands, from the perspectives of patients, dentists and staff members of nongovernmental organizations involved. Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews (n = 21) with undocumented migrants (n = 12), dentists (n = 7) and staff members of nongovernmental organizations (n = 2) during the implementation of a voluntary dental network. Interviews were analysed using a framework analysis method. Results: As a temporary answer to problems in access to oral health for undocumented migrants, the voluntary dental network targeted initial barriers to dental care. Main challenges within the network were conflicting expectations and perceived treatment outcomes by patients, dentist and NGO staff members, limited financial resources, logistic and communication barriers and an increasing administrative burden. Furthermore, feelings of compassion for and trust of the patient affected the ethics of the professional relationship and influenced treatment decisions of dentists. Conclusion: Through the implementation of a voluntary dental network, treatments could be provided to undocumented migrants as a temporary solution. However, the voluntary nature of dental care in the network resulted in a fragmented provision of oral health care among undocumented migrants. To reduce inequalities in oral health on the long term, systemic barriers in access to oral health care need to be addressed.
AB - Objective: Undocumented migrants in Europe face multiple barriers in access to oral health care. This study aimed to explore the accessibility of a voluntary dental network providing dental treatments to undocumented migrants in the Netherlands, from the perspectives of patients, dentists and staff members of nongovernmental organizations involved. Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews (n = 21) with undocumented migrants (n = 12), dentists (n = 7) and staff members of nongovernmental organizations (n = 2) during the implementation of a voluntary dental network. Interviews were analysed using a framework analysis method. Results: As a temporary answer to problems in access to oral health for undocumented migrants, the voluntary dental network targeted initial barriers to dental care. Main challenges within the network were conflicting expectations and perceived treatment outcomes by patients, dentist and NGO staff members, limited financial resources, logistic and communication barriers and an increasing administrative burden. Furthermore, feelings of compassion for and trust of the patient affected the ethics of the professional relationship and influenced treatment decisions of dentists. Conclusion: Through the implementation of a voluntary dental network, treatments could be provided to undocumented migrants as a temporary solution. However, the voluntary nature of dental care in the network resulted in a fragmented provision of oral health care among undocumented migrants. To reduce inequalities in oral health on the long term, systemic barriers in access to oral health care need to be addressed.
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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12605
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12605
M3 - Article
C2 - 33341949
SN - 0301-5661
VL - 49
SP - 330
EP - 336
JO - Community dentistry and oral epidemiology
JF - Community dentistry and oral epidemiology
IS - 4
ER -