Exploring Oral Health Challenges and Barriers to Dental Care Among
Children in Cabo Verde: A Qualitative Study
Abstract
Objectives: Global oral health is a crucial topic since this
(largely preventable) burden affects 3.5 million people worldwide,
disproportionately impacting disadvantaged groups and exacerbating in
low and middle-income countries like Cabo Verde. This exploratory study
aimed to understand the oral health landscape for children in Cabo
Verde. With this knowledge, we hope to provide guidance for oral health
promotion and disease prevention in similar resource-constrained
settings. Methods: Purposive sampling identified 38
stakeholders, including 20 schoolchildren and 8 parents. Data were
collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. All
interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an inductive thematic
approach. Results: Four main themes emerged from the data: oral
health knowledge, oral health practices, dietary habits, and dental
service accessibility. As main challenges were identified: time
constraints hindering comprehensive oral health education in schools,
parental struggles in managing children’s habits and the pervasive
availability of sugar-rich foods driven by affordability and influence,
limiting access to healthier alternatives. Public dental facilities face
severe issues; professional oral health accessibility is currently a
significant challenge. Discussion: The study reveals complex
oral health challenges for Cabo Verdean children, highlighting systemic
obstacles. Despite government claims of free dental care, service
absence and high costs impede prevention. The financial barrier aligns
with global trends, but Cabo Verde’s unique factors complicate this.
Tourism’s impact on oral health, particularly sweets provision, is
underexplored. These results emphasize the necessity of addressing oral
health services in Cabo Verde, where schools and parents show
initiative, but broad population-level improvement necessitates
accessible dental care and dietary changes.