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Abstract
Objectives: People living with HIV (PLWH) are susceptible to developing a variety of oral conditions that if left untreated can lead to sore gums, painful chewing, and tooth loss as well as compromise HIV management and viral suppression. Despite the increased risk of developing oral conditions, it is estimated that up to 58% of PLH do not receive regular dental care. This study aimed to examine HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the dental care setting.
Methods: Adults living with HIV who receive care through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program at the VCU Infectious Disease (ID) clinic were recruited to participate. Study participants underwent a semi-structured interview intended to elicit experiences of stigma and discrimination in the dental care setting. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic content analysis.
Results: Forty-one PLWH were recruited to participate in the study. The majority of participants were male (66%), Black (76%), and aged between 55 to 65 years old (39%). Although most reported having dental insurance (51%), most reported not having a dental home (56%) with more than half reporting not having visited the dentist in the past year (54%). While most of the sample reported not having faced HIV-related stigma in the dental care setting, some participants reported being afraid of experiencing judgment and humiliation when seeking dental care.
Conclusions: PLWH has significant unmet needs that could be addressed with adequate access to dental care. Prioritization of efforts to address stigma in dental care settings is warranted.
Publication Date
2024
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Health Services Research | Public Health Education and Promotion
Current Academic Year
Senior
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Dina T. Garcia
Rights
© The Author(s)
Recommended Citation
1) HRSA. Increasing Access to Dental Care: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; [cited 2023 October 1]. Available from: https://hab.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hab/Publications/careactionnewsletter/june2008.pdf. 2) Oral Health and HIV. (n.d.). https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/publichealth/clinical/oralhealth/hivfactsheet.pdf 3) Parish, C., Siegel, K., Pereyra, M., Liguori, T., & Metsch, L. (2015). Barriers and facilitators to dental care among HIV-Infected adults. Special care in dentistry: official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry, 35(6), 294–302. https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.12132
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Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons