Correlation of HIV-infection and HIV/HCV Co-infection with Oral Health Status of Inner-City Sub-population in Saskatchewan, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the correlation of HIV-infection and HIV/HCV co-infection with the oral health status of patients accessing an inner-city dental clinic in Saskatchewan, Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional chart review of 2000 electronic patient records was performed from an inner-city community dental clinic. Utilizing Andersen and Newman framework of health service utilization, simple, bivariate and multivariate comparisons were conducted. RESULTS: More than half of the patients 53% (n=1,065) were within the ages of 36 to 65. The patient charts represented a mixture of ethnicities including immigrants to Canada (e.g., from Syria, Iran, Europe, China) and Indigenous people. Six percent (n=111) of patients were recorded positive for HIV/AIDS, while 3% (n=46) of patients recorded both HIV/HCV-co-infection. Forty-five percent (n=844) of patients had dental decay. In the bivariate analyses, smoking ([mean]: 3.0 vs. 2.1), being positive for HIV ([mean]: 4.1 vs. 2.6] and HCV ([mean]: 3.7 vs. 2.7) appeared to be associated with higher number of mean decayed teeth. Drug or alcohol addiction (p<.0001), HIV-positive status (p<.0001), and diagnosis of a mental disorder (p=.0037) were associated with the missing teeth. The multivariate analysis confirmed either HIV-positive or HCV-positive had a higher DMF rate compared with those without. Patients who were both HIV and HCV-positive had an estimated DMF rate almost double of those without either condition (IRR=1.84, p<.0001). CONCLUSION: Several psychosocial factors, HIV-infection and HCV-infection were associated with higher number of decayed and missing teeth.

Oral Health and Psychosocial Predictors of Quality of Life and General Well-Being among Adolescents in Lesotho, Southern Africa.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents' quality of life is reported to be significantly associated with physical and social wellbeing. Although adolescents are 30% of the Southern African population, no previous studies have focused on this group in relation to oral health and quality of life. METHODS: A 40-item survey and clinical oral examinations were conducted in public schools in Maseru from 10 to 25 August 2016. Simple, bivariate, and multivariate regressions were used to evaluate the associations of oral health and psychosocial factors with self-reported general health status and quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 526 participants, aged 12-19 years old, responded to the survey and participated in the clinical examinations. The majority reported a good (good/very good/excellent) quality of life (84%) and general health (81%). Bivariate results showed that self-reported general health in this population was significantly influenced by age. The presence of toothache and sensitivity in the adolescents were significantly associated with poor (fair/poor) self-reported general health and were found to be the best predictors for self-general health and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of dental conditions such as toothache and tooth sensitivity can lead to a better perception of general health and Quality of Life in adolescents.