Attitudes of a group of Mexico City residents toward HIV/AIDS in the dental office.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the intention of the public to undergo dental treatment at dental clinics where other patients or a dentist are infected with HIV/AIDS.


METHODS
A cross-sectional design was used to interview a stratified sample of persons 18 years and older in Mexico City with use of a standardized questionnaire. Questions included the type of dental service used, the perception of risk for HIV/AIDS contagion in the dental environment, and the reported intention to continue treatment in a dental office where patients or a dentist were affected by HIV/AIDS.


RESULTS
Of the 490 participants, 74.9% were concerned about HIV/AIDS transmission in the dental office. Only 21.2% intended to continue treatment at a dental office where HIV/AIDS patients were treated, and only 20.0% intended to continue treatment when the dentist was HIV-positive. The degree of concern about HIV/AIDS contagion and the modality of dental service used were associated with the stated intention to continue dental treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need to have good infection control standards in dental practice; to increase public trust in such standards by making them more apparent; and/or to establish educational programs to improve public knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS risks in dental practice.
Irigoyen-Camacho
María Esther
ME
Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col Villa Quietud, CP 04960, Xochimilco, Mexico DF, Mexico.
Zepeda-Zepeda
Marco Antonio
MA
Maupomé
Gerardo
G
López-Cámara
Víctor
V
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003770:Dental Offices; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires