Undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in a dental health-care setting in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Barrier to client-initiated voluntary counselling and test. (VCT) which exists in many places in Nigeria creates additional opportunity for provider.initiated VCT. Aim: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among dental patients in a missionary hospital in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a Pentecostal missionary hospital in Benin City. The data of interest which included age, gender, occupation, primary reason for dental attendance, primary diagnosis, and HIV status were collected from the case notes with self-designed pro forma. The obtained data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results: Out of the 613 cases assessed, 7 of them were HIV-positive giving a prevalence of 1.14%. The HIV-positive patients were aged between 11 and 50 years. More females (1.5%) than males (0.7%) were HIV-positive. HIV-positive patients were involved in diverse occupations ranging from schooling, business, and clergy to professionals. The patients whose primary reason for dental attendance was toothache had the highest prevalence of HIV and those with primary diagnosis as periodontitis had the highest prevalence of HIV. Conclusion: Data from this study revealed the one out of approximately every 88 patients attending the Dental healthcare setting Clinics in Benin City, Edo State, had undiagnosed HIV.positive status. The affected patients who were more females than male and aged between 11 and 50. years had their major presenting complaints and diagnosis as toothache and periodontitis, respectively. Dental health.care setting may serve as a provider.initiated VCT center for ambulatory patients.

Keywords

• dentistry
• human immunodeficiency virus
• voluntary counselling and test