Causes of pregnant women abandoning dental care in primary care in Chile. A qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: In Chile dental care for pregnant women is guaranteed through the Explicit Health Guarantees system. However, many women who initiate treatment do not complete it. The reasons underlying treatment abandonment have been scarcely studied from the perspective of users. Objective: To understand the meaning attributed to dental treatment during pregnancy and the reasons leading to its abandonment, based on the experiences of women who accessed the guarantees. Methodology: A qualitative study was conducted using inductive content analysis of semi-structured interviews with women who did not complete dental treatment in Primary Healthcare. Convenience sampling was used; the analysis was performed manually and independently, and included validation of findings with participants. Result: Eleven interviews were conducted, from which seven themes emerged. Treatment abandonment was associated with difficulties in reconciling appointments with daily life demands, exacerbated by limited scheduling flexibility, appointment changes, and exclusion from the program after missed visits. A weak connection with the healthcare center was also identified, characterized by the absence of follow-up strategies, professional turnover, and limited information. Discussion: Treatment abandonment was not explained by traditional barriers such as cost, fear, or low oral health valuation, but rather by the difficulty of reconciling daily demands with an inflexible program and by a weak institutional relationship. Conclusion: Programs targeting pregnant women should provide appointment schedules compatible with daily life and strengthen patient–center follow-up and relationships to promote treatment continuity.