Prevalence and awareness of oral manifestations among people living with HIV/AIDS attending counselling and treatment centres in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania

Abstract

There is limited literature on the magnitude of oral manifestations and the extent of awareness on its occurrence in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Tanzania. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of, and extent of awareness on oral manifestations among PLWHA attending counselling and treatment centres (CTC) in Iringa Municipality in south-western Tanzania. A convenient sample of 200 PLWHA was included in the study in two CTC. Each participant was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Thereafter a quick clinical oral assessment by a dentist was performed to record any relevant abnormality. The mean age of participants was 38.4 ±11.9 years. Females were 63.3% and most of the participants had primary education (53%). Generally, 23.5% of the PLWHAs had at least one oral manifestation, with statistical significant difference across age groups. Clinical manifestations observed were mucosal ulcerations with or without severe periodontal lesions (7.0%), angular chelitis (7.0%), oral thrush (6.5%), Kaposi's sarcoma (1.5%), and hairy leukoplakia (1.0%). The majority (89.5%) of the PLWHAs had sound awareness on clinical oral manifestations with significant statistical difference by educational status -the strength increased linearly with educational status. In general, 77.0% of the PLWHAs had healthy oral cavities. In conclusion, the prevalence and severity of clinical oral manifestations among PLWHA was low and the majority of PLWHA were aware of the conditions. However, it is recommended that more intensive studies should be carried out to assess the standard strength of the public awareness on oral manifestations among PLWHA and ascertain the magnitude of the problem and facilitate appropriate control strategies.

Oral lesions associated with HIV/AIDS in HIV-seropositive patients attending a counselling and treatment centre in Dar es Salaam

“…30 , but higher than the 23.5% reported in Iringa by Mwangosi et al. 31 Some of the many possible explanations for these differences refer to the levels of ART available, the specific management regimen offered to each individual with oral lesions, which is personalised to each patient, and to differences in practices at various CTCs 26 .…”

“…Participants were also asked to recall and name any oral manifestation they had experienced at any time in the past. This interview was followed by a short clinical assessment of the participant’s oral health status in which all soft and hard tissue lesions were noted, along with details of the site involved, according to the criteria defined elsewhere by Mwangosi and Majenge 31 . Participants who were not willing to join the study were excluded; the number of these was negligible ( n = 2).…”

“…30 in Tanzania reported the overall prevalence of oral manifestations associated with HIV/AIDS to be 45.0% and specific prevalences of candidiasis of 28.9% (mostly of the pseudomembranous type on the lips, mucosa or tongue) and non‐tender lymphadenopathy of 11.8%. A study conducted in the municipality of Iringa found that 23.5% of PlwHA had at least one oral lesion associated with HIV/AIDS and reported prevalences of mucosal ulcerations with or without severe periodontal lesions of 7.0%, angular cheilitis of 7.0%, oral thrush of 6.5%, Kaposi’s sarcoma of 1.5% and hairy leukoplakia of 1.0% 31 . The wide variations between findings of studies from the same country indicate a need for further investigation; hence this study was conducted.…”

HIV/AIDS and Oral Health in Socially Disadvantaged Communities

“…Reports from few countries in the Sub Saharan Africa present a closely similar picture. In Tanzania Hamza et al, (2006) observed oral lesions in 39.5% of the patients whereas Fabian et al, (2009) reported at least one oral lesion in 45% of the PLWHA they examined while Mwangosi & Majenge, (2011) reported a prevalence of oral manifestations to be 23.5%. In Kenya Butt et al, (2001) reported over 80% prevalence of candidiasis of the hyperplastic, erythematous and pseudomembraneous types, 27.9% prevalence of lymphadenopathy and angular cheilitis, while oral Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in 13% of the patients.…”

Oral candida infection among HIV patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in northern, Tanzania

“…Though the incidence and prevalence of opportunistic infection have been reduced worldwide due to use of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) (Diz Dios et al, 2001;Ceballos-Salobrena et al, 2004), oral candidiasis remains the most frequent HIV-associated oral lesion in most developing countries including Tanzania. In Tanzania, oral candidiasis is the common condition in HIV infected patients with prevalence ranging from 20 % to 80 % (Schiødt et al, 1990;Hamza et al, 2006;Kahabuka et al, 2007;Mwangosi & Majenge, 2011).…”