Discriminatory attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS by dental professionals in Nigeria.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study sought to investigate whether there are discriminatory practices towards HIV/AIDS patients among dental professionals in Nigeria, how receptive are dental professionals and institutions to treating People Living With Aids (PLWA), and what underlying factors if any that may contribute to any discriminatory practices. METHODS AND MATERIALS: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in one randomly selected State in each of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. Data collection was by self administered questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about demographic information, general knowledge of HIV/AIDS, adequacy of infection control, fear of occupational exposure, attitudes towards HIV positive patients and areas of need for further training. A total of 75 dental professionals participated in the study. RESULTS: The results of the study suggest that significant number of dental professionals in Nigeria reported attitudes and behaviour towards HIV patients which are discriminatory. CONCLUSION: Further efforts should be made to promote accessibility of discrimination-free quality oral and dental care to this population.

Oral manifestation of HIV/AIDS in Plateau state indigenes, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the prevalence of oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS involving HIV positive Plateau State indigenous adults attending a Special Treatment Clinic serving referred cases and in-patient cases hospitalized in the Medical wards in JUTH, Jos. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. RESULTS: A total of 261 patients confirmed for HIV infection were examined. The age range was 17 - 80 years, mean = 35.6 +/- 9.27 (SD). 59.4% were females and 40.6% were males. Oral lesions attributable to HIV/ AIDS infection were found in 109 (41.8%) patients, 38 (34.9%) of these patients had multiple lesions. Oral lesions were diagnosed more frequently in women (59.6%) than in men (p=0.945). Oral candidiasis was the most common presentation (35.7%) with pseudomembraneous candidiasis (23%) and angular cheilitis (10%) being the most common variants. All the cases of erythematous candidiasis (n=7) were exclusively seen in the female population. Oral hairy leukoplakia and xerostomia were present in 4.6% and 3.8% of cases respectively. Kaposi's Sarcoma was in 5 (1.9%) patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HIV-related oral lesions (HIV-ROL) in a hospital based adult population of Plateau State indigenes in Jos is 41.8%. Oral Candidiasis is the most common HIV-ROL detected and this agrees with most reported findings.