Oral Health and Dental Management

A cross-national oral health policy comparative analysis of access to oral healthcare between a developed (Australia) and a developing country (South Africa)

4^th Asia Pacific Congress & Expo on Dental and Oral Health

July 27-29, 2015 Brisbane, Australia

Tufayl A Muslim and Shenuka Singh

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Oral Health Dent Manag

Abstract:

Background: Oral healthcare forms part of a complex healthcare system. Access to oral healthcare may be restricted or enhanced by the availability of oral healthcare human and structural resources. Aim: The aim of this paper was to undertake a comparative oral health policy analysis in order to understand the current debates around access to oral health services between a developed country (Australia) and a developing country (South Africa). Methods: A conceptual framework, based on the four major policy analysis constructs (context, content, process and implementation), was used to comparatively analyze Australian and South African oral health policies pertaining to access to oral healthcare. Data relating to each of the constructs was gathered and thematically analyzed. A comparative oral health policy analysis was then undertaken. Results: The results reveal that there are highly complex and multifactorial opportunities and barriers in access to oral healthcare. Both Australia and South Africa experience opportunities and barriers in accessing oral healthcare that has various local influences. This leads to unequal access for the disadvantaged members of society, and results in them receiving minimal access to the required oral healthcare. Discussion: Reductions in social inequalities (such as income disparities, education) require that differences in resource allocation need to occur. Policy interventions need to be directed towards facilitating access and oral healthcare for the population that requires access to this care. Conclusion: Access to oral healthcare is influenced by the availability of oral health human resources and infrastructure. Greater efforts need to be put in place by stakeholders to address the opportunities and barriers that may lead to improved oral health outcomes.