Background Oral diseases remain a significant public health problem worldwide despite being largely preventable.
Oral disorders such as dental caries, periodontal diseases, and oral cancers are highly prevalent chronic conditions
that negatively impact quality of life. The oral health practice in Somalia has been evolving over the years, we
therefore explored the challenges of oral health practice in a security-constrained poorly regulated environment to
guide policy development.
Methods We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among 15 oral health practitioners in Somalia. Using
in-depth interviews, we gathered data on challenges working in private dental clinics and governmental institutions.
Additionally, we gathered data on gender, age, marital status, profession, country of graduation, current location of
practice, and years of clinical experience. Because the participants worked in different cities, we conducted interviews
over the phone and recorded them. The data were analyzed via thematic analysis.
Results In this study, 9 of the participants were men and the median age was 29 years. Most of the participants (10)
were dentists and remaining were dental specialists. The findings on challenges fall under four broad thematic areas:
(1) Patient-related challenges; low patient literacy, preference for dental quacks, delay in seeking oral care, and dental
phobia. (2) Institutional-related challenges: limited access to basic oral health services, oral health not an integral part
of primary health care, and unregulated private dental clinics resulting in unqualified quacks practising as private
caregivers. (3) Societal-related challenges, the absence of community-oriented preventive oral health services and low
prioritization of oral health. (4) Personal-related challenges: female dentists in this study faced challenges related to
the preference of male dentists and the shortage of oral health specialists in the country.
Conclusion This study reveals the need for the establishment and strengthening of regulation of oral services and its
inclusion into the basic primary service package provided to the populace. It also calls for community enlightenment
and more investment in dental health care in Somalia.
Clinical trial number Not applicable.