COVID-19 Impact on Public Dental Healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Current Situation and Ongoing Perspectives

Elmedin Bajrić (), Amila Zukanović, Nina Marković, Amra Arslanagić, Amina Huseinbegović, Mediha Selimović-Dragaš, Sedin Kobašlija, Aleksandra Popovac and Dejan Marković
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Elmedin Bajrić: Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics, University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 4a, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Amila Zukanović: Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics, University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 4a, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nina Marković: Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics, University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 4a, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Amra Arslanagić: Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics, University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 4a, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Amina Huseinbegović: Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics, University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 4a, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mediha Selimović-Dragaš: Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics, University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 4a, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sedin Kobašlija: Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics, University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 4a, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Aleksandra Popovac: Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Rankeova 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Dejan Marković: Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Rankeova 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: Background: As the pandemic time went by in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), various patterns toward COVID-19 itself and its impacts, implementation of prescribed preventive measures among the team members, and those of their patients, including immunization process, have been revealed. These patterns were of both empirical and evidence-based kind and consequently formed dental personnel behavior. The aim was to evaluate and compare the COVID-19 status of dentists in B&H, implementation of prescribed preventive measures, and usage of various kinds of PPE, at the beginning of the pandemics and now, 2.5 years later, including dentists’ current vaccination status, and their opinions and attitudes toward the national COVID-19 economic impact on dental practice. Methodology: Study research was in a form of a cross-sectional longitudinally designed online survey and was conducted in two parts. Results and conclusions: Dental professionals in B&H had a high frequency of COVID-19 symptoms in the second pandemic year. The vaccination status of dentists in B&H was in line with the global average values of vaccinated professionals. Dentists used patient management preventive measures and PPE recommended by WHO, but some preventive measures have been changed and prioritized recently. The economic impact of pandemics on dentistry was predominantly negative.

Keywords: COVID-19; Bosnia and Herzegovina; dentistry; vaccines; economic impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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