article · Discover Public Health
A synthesis of 15 studies highlights widespread oral health disparities and systemic service deficits across Cameroon. Geographic inequality is severe, with 93 percent of all practicing dentists concentrated in Yaoundé and Douala, leaving rural, refugee, and elderly populations largely unserved. Major barriers to obtaining dental care include financial distress, an absence of health insurance, long travel distances, and a reliance on traditional healers. Consequently, clinical interventions are largely restricted to tooth extractions and symptomatic relief, while preventive oral healthcare is rarely accessed. Non-governmental organisations and mid-level providers currently perform essential roles in mitigating these shortages. However, national oral health policies remain fragmented, showing limited enforcement of existing legislation and minimal integration into primary healthcare systems.
Oral conditions such as caries and periodontal disease drive substantial suffering, yet care remains marginalized in Cameroon. Vulnerable groups, including rural children, refugees, and the elderly, face the greatest barriers. Identifying these structural and geographic disparities enables policymakers and health planners to target preventative services, expand insurance coverage, and train mid-level healthcare workers where need is most urgent.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract Background Oral health disparities represent a major but under-prioritized public health challenge in Cameroon. Despite a growing burden of caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss, oral health remains marginalized within national policy. Understanding the social determinants driving inequities is essential to designing effective, equitable interventions. Objective This scoping review aimed to synthesize available evidence on oral health disparities and their social determinants in Cameroon, highlighting population-level inequities, systemic gaps, and policy implications. Methods Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar for studies published between 2000 and 2024. Search terms included “oral health”, “dental care”, “Cameroon”, “disparities”, “inequities”, “rural,” “urban” and “socioeconomic”. Eligible studies addressed determinants or inequities in oral health within Cameroon. Data were extracted using a standardized charting framework that covered study design, populations, socioeconomic factors, and key findings. The findings were then synthesized narratively. Results Fifteen studies (2011–2023) were included, spanning urban, rural, semi-urban, indigenous, refugee, and elderly populations, with sample sizes ranging from 73 to 2287 participants. The majority (87%) were cross-sectional. Findings revealed a consistent urban-rural divide, with 93% of dentists concentrated in Yaoundé and Douala, leaving the rest underserved. Financial hardship, long distances, cultural reliance on traditional healers, and lack of insurance were key barriers. Preventive services were rarely accessed, while extractions and symptomatic care dominated treatment. Mid-level providers and NGOs played a critical role in filling service gaps. Policy frameworks remain fragmented, with weak enforcement of Law No. 80 − 09 (1980) and limited integration of oral health into primary health care. Conclusion The review identified consistent patterns of oral health disparities associated with socioeconomic, geographic, and health system factors. Vulnerable groups, including rural children, refugees, and the elderly, face the greatest unmet needs. Addressing these challenges requires expanding insurance coverage, scaling up training for mid-level providers, integrating oral health into primary health care, and implementing context-specific, equity-driven policies aligned with the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1186/s12982-026-02868-0
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
