Understanding of Socially Vulnerable Individuals on Oral Health and Access to Dentist: A Brazilian Study

Social vulnerability experienced by collectors of recyclable materials has a strong influence on their understanding and confrontations health. This research aimed to explore the relationship between oral health and perception of subjects in a context of social disadvantage, in order to support concrete alternatives for action on (oral) health conference. This was a qualitative study carried out with representatives of an autonomous community of Brazilian collectors of recyclable materials. Data were collected through interviews and focus group treated with the technique of qualitative analysis. Respondents showed perceptions of etiology and care practices on oral health promoted beliefs and values collectively instituted in a social risk territory. Also, they associate the quality of their oral health and their difficulty of public access to the context of social vulnerability. This study suggests the adoption of protective, educational and interceptive in oral health practice in order to improve and enable the oral health status of this population.