Oral Health Service Delivery in Southeast Asia: A Scoping Review of Access, Delivery, and Barriers.

BACKGROUND

Oral health is essential for overall well-being, yet significant disparities in access to oral health services persist in Southeast Asia (SEA). This scoping review examines oral healthcare levels, service delivery models, quality of services, and barriers to accessing oral healthcare services in the region and to identify trends in the current literature on these factors.

METHODS

Studies on oral health services in SEA were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, without restrictions on population, language, or publication date, from database inception through July 14, 2024. Study selection and data extraction were conducted independently and in duplicate by at least two reviewers.

RESULTS

Of the 2660 records identified, 52 studies were included after the removal of duplicates, title/abstract screening, and full-text assessment. These studies covered nine countries, with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia most represented. Among the key domains of oral health service delivery reported, accessibility (48.1%), comprehensiveness (32.7%), and coverage (30.8%) emerged as critical factors shaping oral health outcomes. Primary care services were the most frequently mentioned interventions. However, 80.8% of studies identified significant barriers to service delivery, including financial constraints, limited oral health literacy, and geographic challenges-disparities that disproportionately affect low-income and underserved populations.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights disparities in oral health services across SEA, with barriers disproportionately affecting low-income communities. The findings underscore the urgent need to improve accessibility and quality while promoting greater research efforts to inform evidence-based strategies for oral health equity in the region.