Dental Healthcare Utilisation and Its Determinants Among Adults in Kabaw City, Libya: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Dental healthcare utilisation is a key component of oral health prevention and disease management, yet patterns of service use in low- and middle-income settings are often influenced by socioeconomic and behavioural factors. Evidence on adult dental healthcare utilisation in Libya, particularly in semi-urban areas such as Kabaw, remains limited. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 adults in Kabaw city, Libya, to assess dental healthcare utilisation and its associated determinants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, oral health behaviours, and dental visits within the previous 12 months. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with utilisation, while negative binomial regression was used to examine visit frequency. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Overall, 55% of participants reported visiting a dentist in the past 12 months, while only 16% attended regular preventive check-ups. Higher income and dental insurance were significantly associated with increased utilisation (OR = 1.60, p = 0.004). Behavioural factors, including regular toothbrushing and poorer self-rated oral health, were also associated with higher likelihood of dental visits (OR = 1.38, p = 0.021). Preventive visits were significantly lower than treatment-oriented visits (OR = 0.28, p < 0.001), indicating that utilisation was primarily symptom-driven. Dental healthcare utilisation in Kabaw appears to be influenced by socioeconomic status, behavioural practices, and perceived need, with a predominance of treatment-oriented care. Improving access to affordable services, enhancing preventive health education, and strengthening patient–provider communication may support more effective utilisation patterns and better oral health outcomes.