Perceptions of access to oral care at a community dental hygiene clinic for women involved with the criminal justice system.

Background: Women involved with the criminal justice system are often marginalized or vulnerable and may face oral health inequities. Through a community-engaged program at a Canadian university, dental hygiene students provided preventive care at an organization supporting this population. This study explored the impact of these oral care services from client and organization staff perspectives.

Methods: One focus group with 6 clients, 2-person interviews with 4 clients, individual interviews with 3 clients, and one focus group with 4 organization staff members were conducted. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically. The concept of access, proposed by Penchansky and Thomas (1981) and Saurman (2015), was used as the conceptual framework to organize the themes.

Results: Nine themes were identified from the focus group and interview discussions: limited options, convenience, realistic expectations, respect and attention, no judgement, physical environment, communication, clients' unique needs, and appropriate messaging.

Discussion: The clinic's close proximity and services, for which women did not need to pay out-of-pocket, facilitated access to preventive care. The person-centred and trauma-informed care further facilitated access. However, access to comprehensive care through referrals was limited by cost and likely issues of stigmatization from other dental care providers. Clinic aesthetics, advertising, and communication between the students and women receiving care also hindered access.

Conclusion: Preventive oral care services provided at this clinic for marginalized and vulnerable women who have been involved with the criminal justice system were valued by clients and staff. Findings will help inform future community-based dental hygiene clinics for this population.