Dinâmicas de acesso odontológico na perspectiva de pessoas em situação de rua: Uma teoria fundamentada nos dados

Abstract

People experiencing homelessness face different challenges in terms of survival and accessing social services compared to the rest of the population. In this context, the primary objective of this study was to understand access to oral health care from the perspective of people experiencing homelessness. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted using semi structured interviews, which were analyzed using Grounded Theory. The analysis yielded four categories: deterioration of oral health in the context of homelessness, self-management of oral health issues, experiences ranging from neglect to care, and limitations of the assistance received. The results show that access to oral health care is strongly influenced by the demands of survival on the streets. The perception of oral health needs, the seeking of care, and treatment continuity are reduced due to previous experiences of discrimination in health services, illicit substance use, and the limited responsiveness of health services. The study concludes that the initiation of care for people experiencing homelessness occurs only once the imperative of survival on the streets has been overcome. Thus, expanding access to oral health care for this population is not limited to the provision of care but must include more flexible care pathways, timely support, and strategies compatible with the concrete living conditions of people experiencing homelessness.