Utilisation of Dental Services Among Patients in a Tertiary Health Institution in Nigeria
OB Braimoh, AN Ofili
Citation Information :
Braimoh O, Ofili A. Utilisation of Dental Services Among Patients in a Tertiary Health Institution in Nigeria. J Oral Health Comm Dent 2013; 7 (2):91-94.
The aim of this study was to evaluate utilisation of dental services among patients and investigate the reasons for failure to receive treatment.
Materials and methods
Self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on demography, treatment obtained and reason for failure to receive treatment among patients attending a tertiary health institution.
Results
Two hundred and eighty-eight (73.8%) out of the 390 recruited for the study received treatment for their dental complaints and more than half of this (54.9%) had extraction done. Most of the patients 37.4% visited either for pain or because they wanted their teeth removed (25.8%). Time wasting (43.1%) was given as the major reason for failure to receive treatment.
Conclusion
This study revealed that the study population has poor attitude towards oral health, visit dental hospital when in pain and time wasting in the dental clinic was the major reason for not receiving treatment.
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