Barriers to Accessing Dental Care Services in Remote African Communities: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Access to dental care services remains a critical public health challenge in remote African communities, where geographical isolation, economic constraints, and sociocultural factors create multifaceted barriers to oral health service utilization. This qualitative study examines the complex interplay of factors that impede dental care access in rural and remote African settings, drawing upon recent research, health system data, and community-based evidence. The findings reveal that geographical barriers, including vast distances to dental facilities and inadequate transportation infrastructure, compound with economic challenges such as high out-of-pocket costs and lack of health insurance coverage. Additionally, sociocultural factors including traditional health beliefs, low health literacy, and gender-based disparities significantly influence care-seeking behaviors. Healthcare system-related barriers, such as critical shortages of dental professionals, inadequate equipment and supplies, and poor integration of oral health into primary care, further exacerbate access challenges. This study provides evidence-based insights into the structural, economic, and social determinants that shape dental care accessibility in remote African contexts and offers recommendations for policy interventions, community-based service delivery models, and capacity-building initiatives to address these persistent inequities.