Oral health self-management barriers among rural older adults in Guangxi, China: A qualitative study

Objective: To understand the barriers associated with self-management of oral health among rural older adults in Guangxi, and to explore the high incidence of oral problems. This information will assist in the formulation of relevant strategies to solve the oral health problems in this population.

Taking a phenomenological approach, the current status of, and barriers to, oral health self-management in rural older adults from different regions of Guangxi were explored. Participants were purposively selected and interviewed face-to-face.

The interviews yielded four overarching themes and six corresponding sub-themes pertaining to barriers in oral health self-management. These included: (1) Older adults' understanding of oral health and disease, perceptions of oral health and their oral health behaviours; (2) Problems in accessing oral health information; (3) Role of family support; and (4) Barriers to healthcare that included access to dental services, oral treatment experience and financial burden of access to dental care.

Rural older adults in Guangxi face oral health self-management barriers. Improving access to oral healthcare services and changing existing oral health perceptions and habits may assist them in overcoming self-management challenges.