IADR Abstract Archives
Challenges Facing Dentistry in Sudan
Objectives: To document the challenges facing dentistry, in Sudan, from the perspective of Sudanese dentists and dental students.
Methods: The open question “What do you think are the challenges facing dentistry in Sudan?” was administered to respondents via a face to face interview, phone call or via social media.
Respondents included undergraduate and post graduate dental students, senior staff at the ministry of health, Senior university staff, and dentists in private practice.
Results: The qualitative information was analysed thematically. One major challenge, that was deduced from all responses, but not directly communicated by respondents, was that Sudan was always perceived as Khartoum state alone. Respondents were probed further to consider the whole Sudan.
There are general challenges to the country that affect all professions including dentistry. These include political and economic instability, civil wars, corruption and managerial challenges. There are challenges that dentistry shares with others in the health sector. These include governance, access to healthcare, quality of services and financing of healthcare . Challenges specific to dentistry were in the regulation of dental practice, training and dental education, national oral health policies and guidelines, biosafety and infection control, research, lack of evidence based decision making and community based orientation in providing dental care.
Understanding the challenges facing the profession in Sudan is vital prior to strengthening those functions and interventions that prove effective and introducing changes to those that did not produce the desired outcome. Perspective of the professionals is essential to complement the picture.
Conclusions: Frustrations were expressed across all levels in the field. Dentistry is faced with multiple challenges in Sudan, some of which are shared with other professions.
Acknowledgment: To members of the World Federation of Public Health Associations oral health working group who help in the design of the study
Methods: The open question “What do you think are the challenges facing dentistry in Sudan?” was administered to respondents via a face to face interview, phone call or via social media.
Respondents included undergraduate and post graduate dental students, senior staff at the ministry of health, Senior university staff, and dentists in private practice.
Results: The qualitative information was analysed thematically. One major challenge, that was deduced from all responses, but not directly communicated by respondents, was that Sudan was always perceived as Khartoum state alone. Respondents were probed further to consider the whole Sudan.
There are general challenges to the country that affect all professions including dentistry. These include political and economic instability, civil wars, corruption and managerial challenges. There are challenges that dentistry shares with others in the health sector. These include governance, access to healthcare, quality of services and financing of healthcare . Challenges specific to dentistry were in the regulation of dental practice, training and dental education, national oral health policies and guidelines, biosafety and infection control, research, lack of evidence based decision making and community based orientation in providing dental care.
Understanding the challenges facing the profession in Sudan is vital prior to strengthening those functions and interventions that prove effective and introducing changes to those that did not produce the desired outcome. Perspective of the professionals is essential to complement the picture.
Conclusions: Frustrations were expressed across all levels in the field. Dentistry is faced with multiple challenges in Sudan, some of which are shared with other professions.
Acknowledgment: To members of the World Federation of Public Health Associations oral health working group who help in the design of the study