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Background <p>Dental service utilisation in Nigeria is low, with limited understanding of the contextual factors driving poor service utilisation. The study aimed to explore the influence of the intersection of Yorùbá traditions, oral health practices, and the utilisation of modern dental services.</p> Methods <p>This study employed a qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach. It used a virtual community reflexivity approach to explore personal understandings of traditional remedies, proverbs, taboos, and beliefs that shape oral health behaviours within Yorùbá communities. A community of practice was formed following a public call on five WhatsApp groups that engaged researchers and people interested in cultural practices. Discussions on perspectives on the link between Yorùbá orature, oral health practices, and dental service utilisation were facilitated over six weeks. The discussions were analysed inductively, and emerging themes were shared at a two-hour culture-oriented seminar for validation. The feedback from the validation meeting was used to finalise the manuscript.</p> Results <p>The community of practice had 113 members, and the validation meeting had 122 attendees (58 physical and 64 online). Two themes and six sub-themes were identified through the inductive analysis. The first theme was ‘Cultural Significance of Dental Service Utilisation’ linked to four subthemes, namely: (i) Proverbs, Songs and Folklore, (ii) Taboos and Stigmatized Conditions, (iii) Home-Based Remedies, (iv) Spiritual and Herbal Practices. The second theme was ‘Modern Implications of Cultural Practices’ linked to two subthemes, namely: (v) Normalization of Pathologies, and (vi) Cultural Resistance to Modern Dentistry. The findings highlighted the cultural significance of oral health, with aesthetic and spiritual considerations often taking precedence over modern dental interventions. The routine use of herbal remedies at home is widespread, and the normalization of some dental pathologies results in a delay in seeking professional care. Stigmatisation associated with oral conditions further reinforces reliance on home-based remedies and delays in seeking care.</p> Conclusion <p>The interrogation of Yorùbá orature suggests oral aesthetics have spiritual connotations for life and wellness, which makes oral self-care practices a routine part of the daily lives of the community. Modern dentistry programmes and practices need to foster culturally sensitive public health messages and strategies to improve the utilisation of oral health facilities for preventive care.</p>

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A qualitative study of Yorùbá culture and the utilisation of modern dental services for oral health

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月27日

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  • Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan,
  • Oluwabunmi Tope Bernard,
  • Ebunoluwa Oduwole,
  • Emmanuel Taiwo O. Babalola,
  • Babalola Joseph Balogun,
  • Folake Olayinka Olojo,
  • Nathal Kehinde Adegbite,
  • Benjamin Adisa Ogunfolakan,
  • Julius Olugbenga Oyelakin,
  • Adebowale Adesida,
  • Akintoba Adebayo Akintayo,
  • Olumide Okunmakinde,
  • Awelewa Oladimeji Johnson,
  • Iyabode Deborah Akande,
  • Gbenga Fasiku,
  • Mayokun Joyce Olowoniyi,
  • Olusegun Stephen Titus

摘要

Background

Dental service utilisation in Nigeria is low, with limited understanding of the contextual factors driving poor service utilisation. The study aimed to explore the influence of the intersection of Yorùbá traditions, oral health practices, and the utilisation of modern dental services.

Methods

This study employed a qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach. It used a virtual community reflexivity approach to explore personal understandings of traditional remedies, proverbs, taboos, and beliefs that shape oral health behaviours within Yorùbá communities. A community of practice was formed following a public call on five WhatsApp groups that engaged researchers and people interested in cultural practices. Discussions on perspectives on the link between Yorùbá orature, oral health practices, and dental service utilisation were facilitated over six weeks. The discussions were analysed inductively, and emerging themes were shared at a two-hour culture-oriented seminar for validation. The feedback from the validation meeting was used to finalise the manuscript.

Results

The community of practice had 113 members, and the validation meeting had 122 attendees (58 physical and 64 online). Two themes and six sub-themes were identified through the inductive analysis. The first theme was ‘Cultural Significance of Dental Service Utilisation’ linked to four subthemes, namely: (i) Proverbs, Songs and Folklore, (ii) Taboos and Stigmatized Conditions, (iii) Home-Based Remedies, (iv) Spiritual and Herbal Practices. The second theme was ‘Modern Implications of Cultural Practices’ linked to two subthemes, namely: (v) Normalization of Pathologies, and (vi) Cultural Resistance to Modern Dentistry. The findings highlighted the cultural significance of oral health, with aesthetic and spiritual considerations often taking precedence over modern dental interventions. The routine use of herbal remedies at home is widespread, and the normalization of some dental pathologies results in a delay in seeking professional care. Stigmatisation associated with oral conditions further reinforces reliance on home-based remedies and delays in seeking care.

Conclusion

The interrogation of Yorùbá orature suggests oral aesthetics have spiritual connotations for life and wellness, which makes oral self-care practices a routine part of the daily lives of the community. Modern dentistry programmes and practices need to foster culturally sensitive public health messages and strategies to improve the utilisation of oral health facilities for preventive care.