Factors Responsible for Delayed Presentation at the Dental Clinic of the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: It is a very sad experience, as a clinician, to see a patient presenting very late at a dental offi ce with complicated oral health-related problems when the initial causal problem is very cheap, easy, and simple to treat. This study aims to determine the factors causing delay in seeking dental treatment among the patients visiting the dental clinic of the Fedearal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria. Methodology: This study was questionnaire-based survey of 172 non-paediatric patients attending the dental clinic of the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. Data was obtained on their socio-demographic characteristics and the reasons behind their late presentation. Data analysis was done using the SPSS Version 20 Software. Results: Most of the participating patients were males (57.6%), Muslims (73.8%) and of age 16 -35 years (65.1%). Also, 66.9% of them were from the Hausa tribe, 62.8% were married, and 40.1% had polytechnic/university education. The reasons indicated by the respondents for their delay in seeking early oral healthcare services at our dental clinic were diverse. However, the three most commonly given reason were: busy work schedules, dental anxiety, and preference for traditional treatment options. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of delayed presentation among patients visiting the dental clinic of the Federal Medical Centre situated in the Birnin Kebbi metropolis. This study also identifi ed the reasons for such delays. This study also corroborates other studies in ascertaining that delayed dental visit is a public health and clinical problem in the Nigerian setting. Hence, there is an imminent need to ensure that the public are educated on oral health issues.

Utilization of Dental Services by the Female Population in Rural Areas; A Cross-Sectional Study

“…in other studies. 14 This, however, contradicts our findings because our study was co nducted in a government setting where the cost of dental treatment is very low or even free but even though most of the patients did mention the cost of delaying their previous dental visits because according to them privates dental treatments costs high and government hospitals in Lakki Marwat do provide patients with very limited treatment facilities and most commonly provided one is tooth extraction. Also, the environment is extremely unhygienic, there is no system for autoclaving and other facilities for an aseptic environment to prevent patients from nosocomial infections.…”

“…The study population consists of females belonging to different socioeconomic statuses but most of them were illiterate and some have very limited education like studies conducted in Nigeria and India. 13,14 Most of the females had made their previous dental visits delayed ultimately, they do report to the OPD with serious dental issues like extreme pain, swelling, severe dental caries, extreme dental plaque, and other esthetic problems. The most reported reasons recorded for delayed dental visits were, Dental disease was not severe which was consistent with findings in a study conducted in India and China.…”

A Cross-Sectional Study on Incidence and Predictors of Self-Reported Dental Anxiety among Nigerian Public Primary Schoolchildren

“…The findings also supported the hypothesis that the influence of gender, age, SES, and parental education on schoolchildren's dental anxiety is not statistically significant. Although some studies indicated that gender predicts dental anxiety following their report that dental anxiety was higher in adult females than males, 7 12 14 15 16 17 21 one study showed that no gender disparity exists in dental anxiety levels among children. 22 In contrast to some research that found that participants' age was a contributing factor to differences in dental anxiety scores, 7 11 12 15 other studies found the opposite, 8 24 which is consistent with our current findings regarding the relationship between age and dental anxiety in schoolchildren.…”

“…The incidence of dental anxiety in the current study is comparable to that found in previous studies, which ranged from 7.43 to 62.8%. 7 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 One study discovered that 47.3% of respondents had low dental anxiety, while 52.7% had high dental anxiety. 20 In another study on dental anxiety, 36.2% of respondents reported being mildly anxious, 57.8% reported being moderately anxious, and 6.0% reported being highly anxious.…”

Anxiety In A Dental And Maxillofacial Surgery Consulting Room: Does Previous Experience Matter?

“…This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the patients attending the Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin-Kebbi, Nigeria, from July to October, 2016. This study forms part of the "Dental Health Services Project" conducted in the aforementioned department (Olawole & Kanmodi, 2019).…”