Folorunsho Sunkanmi, Ajayi Victor, Sanmori Munirat, Suleiman Medinah, Abdullateef Raji, Abdulganiyu Abdulazeez
Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, USA.
School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
Spec Care Dentist. 2025 May-Jun;45(3):e70040. doi: 10.1111/scd.70040.
Nigeria's rapidly aging population presents urgent challenges for the healthcare system, particularly in oral health, which remains an overlooked aspect of well-being. While older adults are especially vulnerable to dental issues such as tooth loss, periodontal disease, and oral pain, access to care remains limited due to systemic, economic, and cultural barriers. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of older Nigerians in accessing and utilizing dental care, with the goal of identifying key barriers, facilitators, and policy-relevant insights.
Fifteen participants aged 50-83 years were purposively selected from urban and peri-urban areas of Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria. Using a semi-structured interview guide, data were collected through face-to-face interviews and analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke's methodology.
Three overarching themes emerged: (1) barriers to accessing dental care, including high treatment costs, geographic inaccessibility, mobility challenges, and long waiting times; (2) facilitators of care, such as family support, employment-based insurance, and culturally supportive health beliefs; and (3) perceptions of dental care, with participants recognizing its importance for nutrition, dignity, and overall quality of life. Findings reveal that dental care for older adults in Nigeria is shaped by a combination of structural neglect and individual adaptation. While participants valued preventive care, financial constraints, poor infrastructure, and a lack of geriatric-trained professionals limited consistent access. However, social support networks and respectful provider interactions were critical enablers of care.
This study points to the need for age-inclusive health policies that integrate dental services into primary healthcare, expand insurance coverage, and strengthen community-based outreach. Addressing these gaps is not only a matter of public health, but of equity, dignity, and the right to age well.
尼日利亚人口迅速老龄化，给医疗系统带来了紧迫挑战，尤其是在口腔健康方面，而口腔健康仍是人们福祉中一个被忽视的方面。虽然老年人特别容易患牙齿脱落、牙周疾病和口腔疼痛等牙科问题，但由于系统性、经济和文化障碍，获得护理的机会仍然有限。这项定性研究探讨了尼日利亚老年人在获得和利用牙科护理方面的生活经历，目的是确定关键障碍、促进因素以及与政策相关的见解。
从尼日利亚中北部伊洛林的城市和城郊地区有目的地选取了15名年龄在50 - 83岁之间的参与者。使用半结构化访谈指南，通过面对面访谈收集数据，并按照布劳恩和克拉克的方法进行主题分析。
出现了三个总体主题：（1）获得牙科护理的障碍，包括治疗费用高、地理位置不便、行动不便以及等待时间长；（2）护理的促进因素，如家庭支持、基于就业的保险以及文化上支持健康的观念；（3）对牙科护理的看法，参与者认识到其对营养、尊严和整体生活质量的重要性。研究结果表明，尼日利亚老年人的牙科护理受到结构忽视和个人适应的综合影响。虽然参与者重视预防护理，但经济限制、基础设施差以及缺乏经过老年医学培训的专业人员限制了持续获得护理的机会。然而，社会支持网络和与医护人员的尊重互动是护理的关键促成因素。
本研究指出需要制定具有年龄包容性的健康政策，将牙科服务纳入初级医疗保健，扩大保险覆盖范围，并加强社区外展服务。解决这些差距不仅是公共卫生问题，也是公平、尊严和安享晚年权利的问题。
