Human immunodeficiency virus related discrimination in general dentistry

Abstract

Objectives:To investigate HIV related discrimination among general dentists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and to list factors affecting or causing healthcare providers to discriminate people living with HIV (PLWH).Methods:The current study takes place in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia. The duration for accepting all responses was between March and November, 2017. In this cross-sectional study, we used a self-administered, structured questionnaire. The sample size was 430 general dentists practicing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics, mean, and standard deviation were calculated. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was carried out at p<0.05 level of significance. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for data analysis.Results:In our study population, the total HIV related discrimination was 67.4%. Approximately 98.1% defer PLWH to the last appointment of the day, while 84.7% refer them to specialists. Furthermore,100% reported wearing double gloves, and 94.7% where wearing protective eye shields if they encounter HIV-patient in the clinic. Male participants were found to be 23% more likely to be discriminative compared to female participants, Moreover, participants who are confident to provide both surgical and non-surgical dental treatment for PLWH were found to be 52% less likely to be discriminative towards PLWH. Also, HIV discrimination is 33% higher in the private practice compared to the governmental practice.Conclusion:Human immunodeficiency virus related discrimination in the study population was affected by dentists’ gender, type of practice, and self-protective attitudes.

Personas Que Viven Con Vih-Sida: Apreciación Sobre La Atención Odontológica en Salta, Argentina

“…In addition, 100% reported double-glove use and that discrimination against these patients was 33% higher in private clinics than in government institutions. 28 In our study, 70% of patients perceived that dentists knew about HIV/AIDS, which does not necessarily reflect the level of knowledge that professionals may have. It is therefore suggested for future studies to compare what the patient perceives about the dentists' knowledge and the actual knowledge they have, since studies measuring these variables are lacking.…”

Evaluating Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Dentists on HIV/AIDS in West Java, Indonesia, in the COVID-19 Era

“…Discrimination against patients with HIV/AIDS was also 33% higher in private practice than in government practice. Discriminatory attitudes reported by people living with HIV/AIDS by health care providers are refusal to care, unnecessary referrals, unfriendly care, and fear of infection [30].…”

HIV and stigma in the healthcare setting

“…As such, these oral impacts are featured as a core element of the dental undergraduate curriculum. Despite the inclusion of HIV in the dental curriculum and current concepts such as universal cross infection control being evermore commonplace in dental practice, HIV stigma still persists among the dental profession (Acosta de Velásquez, Pérez‐Then, Mueses Marín, Pinzón Gómez, & Shor‐Posner, 2011; Alshouibi & AlAlyani, 2018; Arheiam et al., 2017; Crossley, 2004).…”

“…In China, almost half (44%) of dentists agreed that saliva was a vehicle for the transmission of HIV and more than three‐quarters (86%) wore extra personal protective equipment when treating PLHIV (Lee, Fan, Starr, & Dogon, 2017). Studies undertaken in North Africa and the Middle East suggested that there was concern from most dentists (81.5%) that transmission in the dental setting was very likely and there was a general uncertainty from the majority (82%) about their willingness to provide care for PLHIV (Alshouibi & AlAlyani, 2018; Arheiam et al., 2017). In Saudi Arabia, more than two‐thirds (67.4%) of dentists agreed to some form of HIV discrimination and did not have the confidence to provide surgical dental treatments to PLHIV; furthermore, more than half did not have the confidence to provide routine, non‐surgical dental procedures.…”