Self-disclosure experience of people with HIV infection in dedicated and mainstreamed dental facilities.

OBJECTIVES

People infected with HIV choose dental care in dedicated or mainstreamed facilities. In this study, people with HIV were asked whether they sought care in dedicated or mainstreamed dental facilities, their reasons for choosing this source of care, their HIV disclosure experiences, and what, if any, consequences the disclosure had on access to dental care.

METHODS

Patients in a dedicated AIDS medical clinic (n = 84) responded to questions in a telephone survey. The sample was predominantly gay, white males with symptomatic HIV infection, from randomly chosen clinic appointments.

RESULTS

The study found that 67.6 percent of respondents who had seen a dentist since their HIV diagnosis chose mainstreamed dental facilities. The majority of study participants (70%) disclosed their HIV status. Of those subjects who chose disclosure, discrimination was minimal (2.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest support for public policy encouraging people with HIV to go to any dentist with whom they feel most comfortable and with whom they will receive the best possible care, regardless of whether the dentist practices in a dedicated or mainstreamed facility.