# Barriers and Facilitators for Accessing Oral Health Care for Ukrainian Newcomers to Nova Scotia

## TL;DR

This study explores the challenges and supports Ukrainian immigrants in Nova Scotia face when accessing dental care, aiming to improve their oral health outcomes.

## Contribution

The study provides novel qualitative insights into oral health care barriers and facilitators for Ukrainian newcomers in Canada.

## Key findings

- Facilitators to oral health care included social networks and workplace information.
- Barriers included cost, language, and unfamiliarity with Canada's dental systems.
- Interventions are needed to improve equitable access to oral health care for Ukrainian newcomers.

## Abstract

The war in Ukraine has resulted in a mass exodus of Ukrainians fleeing their country and seeking resettlement in many countries, including Canada. There is a lack of literature, particularly qualitative, that explores past experiences with oral health care in the country of origin for newcomers and the experience of access and utilization of oral health care once in Canada. The increase in Ukrainian newcomers to Canada requires an exploration of barriers and facilitators to oral health care access to inform policy.

To explore the barriers and facilitators to oral health care experienced by Ukrainian newcomers during resettlement in Nova Scotia, Canada.

This study used a narrative qualitative methodology. Adult Ukrainian newcomers who arrived in Canada after the Russian invasion in 2022 were recruited via social media and through recruitment flyers advertised at the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia. They were interviewed between February 17 and July 1, 2023, in the Ukrainian language. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via inductive and deductive line-by-line coding per the thematic analysis method. Codes were grouped to form categories and themes.

Participants identified facilitators to oral health care that included friends and family, social networks, and information provided through the workplace. Barriers to access included cost, referral process, location and wait times for specialists, language, and lack of understanding the oral health care and dental insurance systems in Canada.

Ukrainian newcomers to Nova Scotia face several barriers to oral health care access. Interventions to address these barriers should be considered to ensure equitable access to oral health care services during the resettlement process.

The results of this study may be used to inform policy to facilitate timely access to oral health care for Ukrainian newcomers. The findings may also guide professionals when providing oral health care services to Ukrainian newcomers. Addressing the barriers and maximizing the facilitators to oral health care services for this population could help to improve access to oral health care services and oral health outcomes.