Table 4.
Reasons for Difficulties with Access to Dental Care Expressed by Caregivers (n = 102)
| Reasons for Difficulties with Access to Dental Care (n=102) | Age | Gender | Level of Education | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR | 95% CI | OR | 95% CI | OR | 95% CI | |
| Dentist unwilling to treat or inadequately trained in treating patients with special needs | 0.82 | 0.30–2.24 | 0.82 | 0.28–2.43 | 1.49 | 0.51–4.35 |
| Dental clinic environment, colors, light and design are disturbing to special needs persons | 0.60 | 0.25–1.43 | 1.31 | 0.52–3.31 | 1.03 | 0.40–2.63 |
| Dental clinic waiting area and general services (example: toilets) are not suitable | 1.20 | 0.52–2.74 | 1.48 | 0.62–3.52 | 1.12 | 0.44–2.81 |
| Dental clinic is not equipped to facilitate treatment of special needs individuals | 1.66 | 0.65–4.26 | 0.87 | 0.32–2.36 | 1.41 | 0.51–3.93 |
| Dental staff are not friendly or do not know how to manage special needs individuals | 1.71 | 0.74–3.94 | 1.00 | 0.42–2.40 | 0.57 | 0.22–1.46 |
| Patient has communication difficulties with the dentist during treatment visits | 1.18 | 0.49–2.82 | 1.48 | 0.60–3.65 | 1.38 | 0.52–3.63 |
| Medical health status of the patient hinders him/her from receiving immediate dental care | 1.49 | 0.64–3.45 | 0.91 | 0.38–2.17 | 0.80 | 0.32–2.00 |
| Patient needs informed consent from his physician or needs hospitalization | 1.09 | 0.47–2.52 | 0.75 | 0.30–1.85 | 1.02 | 0.40–2.57 |
| Patient is afraid of the dentist | 0.57 | 0.25–1.30 | 1.41 | 0.60–3.33 | 1.42 | 0.57–3.53 |
| Patient unable to sit on the dental chair or cooperate with the dentist | 1.27 | 0.58–2.79 | 1.27 | 0.55–2.91 | 1.29 | 0.54–3.09 |
| Patient’s dental condition was not serious enough to see a dentist | 0.76 | 0.33–1.76 | 1.25 | 0.50–3.13 | 0.71 | 0.28–1.81 |
| Dental centers/units that treat special needs patients are rare and limited | 0.44 | 0.14–1.41 | 1.00 | 0.31–3.22 | 0.63 | 0.16–2.44 |
| Difficulty in getting appointments | 0.55 | 0.21–1.49 | 1.18 | 0.44–3.22 | 0.77 | 0.25–2.35 |
| No time to visit the dentist | 1.13 | 0.49–2.64 | 1.97 | 0.77–5.08 | 0.76 | 0.30–1.88 |
| Cost or financial difficulty | 0.84 | 0.38–1.86 | 0.89 | 0.38–2.11 | 0.68 | 0.27–1.68 |
| Transportation difficulty | 0.87 | 0.39–1.94 | 1.85 | 0.77–4.45 | 0.80 | 0.33–1.91 |
| Dental clinic is too far away | 0.62 | 0.28–1.36 | 0.74 | 0.32–1.70 | 0.55 | 0.23–1.31 |
Notes: Age: 12–34 years *vs ≥ 35 years; gender: males *vs females; level of education: under high school/no education *vs high school graduate and above (*indicates the reference values). Level of significance set at p < 0.05; none of the ORs were statistically significant.
Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval.