Awareness regarding the right to dental care among users of a teaching clinic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the knowledge users of a teaching clinic have regarding basic rights related to the possibilities of dental care. A structured interview was conducted with 56 users (proportion estimate). Upon entering the healthcare service, users are far from what could be described as aware citizens. They obtain care through friendship (32.1%) or cases of urgency (28.6%). When they do not obtain care, the most mentioned alternative is a private clinic (42.8%), which indicates that the constitutional right to healthcare is not incorporated by the population of the present study, as they attempt to solve their problems individually and with their own resources. This line of thinking remains (50%) even in cases of urgency (pain), as only four individuals reported they would seek care in the public sector. This underlines the lack of knowledge of the basic right to healthcare and other alternatives that the organized public clinic offers. The characterization that a service of this nature performs favors is confirmed, as 76.8% of the interviewees reported not knowing who finances their treatment and 42.8% would not file complaints despite being dissatisfied with the service. In spite of the explanatory work carried out by the institution, users still do not have information about their rights and citizenship, a factor that prevents political participation. The interviewed community does not display the characteristics of a group that is aware of their rights regarding dental care.