Esquivel-Pedraza L, Fernández-Cuevas L, Pedrosa-Islas L, Ruiz-Badillo A, Magis-Rodríguez C

Language: Spanish
References: 24
Page: 183-188
PDF size: 138.42 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To know the reasons of dental treatment refusal of HIV-patients among dentists of the National Health Ministry (SSA). Methods: Cross sectional study performed from January 1999 to March 2005, by the National AIDS Center in Mexico City (CENSIDA). Self applicable questionnaires were filled by the SSA-dentists, at the beginning of three different meetings on HIV/AIDS & Dentistry. Results: Eighty-four questionnaires were handed; 76% women and 24% men. The median age of dentists was 39 years old (range 22-58 yr.). Fifty-six (69.5%) dentists answered that were willing to treat an AIDS patient in the dental office. However, 74 (88.1%) described at least one reason to refuse dental treatment to an AIDS-patient. The most frequent reasons of unwillingness were: 40 (53.3%) deleterious health status of AIDS-patients, 38 (49.4%) poor cross-infection control in the dental office and 31 (40.3%) because AIDS patients need special management. Poor cross-infection control reasons were described more frequently in men; among dentists who do not do a complete medical history, do not wear protection glasses or use less number of gloves per day (p ‹ 0.05). Fear for HIV transmission was higher among dentists with no history of having treated HIV patients (p = 0.009) than those with previous contact. Conclusion: In our study, a high percentage of dentists described reasons to refuse the dental attention to AIDS-patients. Fear for HIV-transmission in the dental office and lack of knowledge about HIV-disease management were the most common causes.

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