Perceptions, Beliefs and Barriers to Oral Health Care Among the Secluded Irular Indigenous Tribes-A Qualitative Study Using in-Depth Interviews.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the perception, beliefs and barriers to oral healthcare among the indigenous Irular tribal population in the Cuddalore and Pondicherry districts, South India.

Materials and methods: This study was grounded in Heidegger's interpretive phenomenological approach and employed face-to-face, one-to-one, in-depth, semi-structured interviews in Tamil. An interview guide developed from a literature review and expert opinion was pilot-tested to ensure clarity and cultural appropriateness. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling until interpretive data saturation was achieved. A total of 27 Irular adults aged 18 years or older participated in the study. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretive thematic analysis.

Results: Seven key themes emerged from one-on-one interviews: dietary attitudes on oral health; perceived benefits and dependency on betel quid chewing; tooth pain management fallacies, and misinformation; perceptions toward professional dental care; experiences with professional dental care; barriers to accessing dental care and perceptions towards dental care among the Irular population.

Conclusion: The study highlights that limited access to dental services due to geographic isolation, economic challenges and reliance on traditional practices such as betel quid chewing, contributes to inadequate oral health management. Addressing these challenges requires culturally sensitive oral health education, community-based outreach programs, and improved accessibility to affordable dental services.