Global Perspectives on Barriers to Oral Health Care Access for Afghan Refugee Women and Girls: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Afghanistan's recent shift in political landscape has intensified gender-based challenges. The restrictive gender norms and practices have profound implications for the well-being of Afghan women and girls. Among dental professionals, there is limited awareness about the trauma and barriers that impact a refugee's ability to access or commit to oral health care.<h4>Objectives</h4>This scoping review protocol will explore and conceptualize the current knowledge surrounding barriers that refugee women from Afghanistan experience in accessing oral health care.<h4>Methods</h4>Databases including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and CINAHL, supplemented by a manual search of reference lists and grey literature search to locate studies reporting on the barriers to accessing oral health care in refugee women and girls from Afghanistan. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts, and complete full-text reviews, with data extraction confirmed by a third reviewer. Findings from our scoping review will be presented using a PRISMA-SCR diagram and thematic narrative synthesis.<h4>Expected outcomes</h4>The findings from this scoping review will highlight the current knowledge gap and inform an educational package for oral health therapy students in Australia, focused on overcoming barriers and providing culturally sensitive care for Afghan refugee women and girls.