Dental-care experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Previous surveys of people living with HIV/AIDS suggest that such persons may have difficulty in securing dental care and that some dentists would prefer to refer such individuals. This study aimed to assess the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS in Aotearoa New Zealand in obtaining and undergoing dental treatment. Survey forms were distributed through organisations working with people with HIV/AIDS. Fifty-seven questionnaires were analysed. The majority of respondents were gay white males. Seventy-five percent of participants felt that dental care was important, or very important, and 37 percent had increased the frequency of visits to the dentist since being diagnosed as HIV-positive. Forty-two (74 percent) participants had disclosed their HIV status to their dentists. Of this group, the majority had experienced either supportive or sympathetic reactions. Of those who concealed their status, 31 percent feared rejection by the dental practitioner, and 31 percent felt the dentist was taking adequate precautions and that there was no need to volunteer information on HIV status. Only three people reported denial of treatment on the grounds of their HIV status. An additional two people were immediately referred on by their practitioner after disclosure. Almost half the participants had changed dentists after they were diagnosed as HIV-positive. The main reasons stated included cost of treatment, fear of breach of confidentiality, or shifting to a new centre. Even though 33 percent received dental care in a hospital environment, 63 percent suffered systemic manifestations of HIV-infection, and 51 percent had oral manifestations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)