Factors influencing utilization of oral health services in Lesotho

Abstract

The oral health programme in Lesotho aims to offer curative, preventive, promotive and rehabilitative oral health services. However, observations as well as annual reports suggest that oral health service utilization is poor, as most patients only attend dental clinics with advanced stages of decayed teeth which can only be extracted. The reasons for this very undesirable late utilization of oral health services have not been systematically explored and understood in Lesotho. This makes it difficult for health planners to find solutions for improving access, utilizations and responsiveness of oral health services.