title: Utilization of dental care services among low-income HIV-positive persons receiving primary care in South Florida.
abstract: We investigated the use of dental care services among a population of low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS who had not seen a dental care provider during the 12 months prior to study enrollment. A total of 593 participants were recruited from five HIV primary care clinics in two South Florida counties and interviewed regarding past utilization of dental care services, HIV primary care service utilization, and barriers to care. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine correlates of oral care utilization within the preceding two years. One-third of respondents reported seeing a dentist in the preceding two years. The odds of having seen a dentist were greater for respondents with stable housing, more than a high school education, and who had received help in getting dental care; black respondents (compared to Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites) were less likely to have seen a dentist in the preceding two years. Despite the availability of dental services for low-income HIV-positive persons, utilization of dental care remains low. This study reinforces the need to provide assistance to HIV-positive persons in obtaining dental care. In particular, it indicates that such assistance should be targeted toward Black Americans, persons with low income and unstable housing situations, and those with limited help to navigate the health care system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, USA. mpereyra@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereyra
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Metsch
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomar
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jeanty
authors.forename: Shari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messinger
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult