Understanding oral health disparities through meaningful engagement: A mixed-methods study

Objectives: This study aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively assess perceptions regarding accessibility, utilization, and quality of oral health services among underprivileged populations attending a public health centre in Delhi, India. Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Focus group discussions were conducted among 12 participants using maximum-variation purposive sampling to explore lived experiences and barriers to care. Findings informed the development of a semi-structured questionnaire, which was translated, validated, and administered to 300 adults. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 14, while quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS v26 with chi-square testing following normality assessment. Results: Thematic analysis identified four major domains: structural barriers, educational limitations, financial burden, and perceived service quality. Questionnaire findings revealed that 82% of participants reported dental treatment costs as prohibitive, while 71% sought dental care only during pain episodes. A statistically significant association was observed between socioeconomic status and awareness of available dental services (p < 0.05). Participants expressed strong interest in publicly funded dental care and integration of oral health within primary healthcare delivery. Conclusions: Oral health disparities persist due to intersecting cognitive, structural, and economic barriers. Addressing these inequities requires community-engaged strategies, improved service integration, and strengthened public health infrastructure.