Oral health associated with quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil

• Published in: Health and quality of life outcomes 2014-03, Vol.12 (1), p.28-28
• Main Authors: Soares, Gabriella Barreto, Garbin, Cléa Adas Saliba, Rovida, Tânia Adas Saliba, Garbin, Artênio José Ísper
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analysis; Brazil - epidemiology; Community Health Services - standards; Community Health Services - utilization; Cross-Sectional Studies; DMF Index; Female; Health aspects; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Status Disparities; HIV (Viruses); HIV Infections - psychology; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Oral Health - statistics & numerical data; Periodontal Index; Physician-Patient Relations; Quality of Life - psychology; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1477-7525; 1477-7525
• DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-12-28

The epidemic of HIV/AIDS enters into its fourth decade and is still considered an important public health problem in developed and developing countries. The purpose is verify the oral health and other factors that influence the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS attending a public service reference in Brazil. The participants answered the questionnaire on socio-demographic conditions, issues related to HIV and daily habits. The quality of life was analyzed by the HIV/AIDS Targeted Quality of Life (HAT-QoL) instrument with 42 items divided into nine domains: General Activity, Sexual Activity, Confidentiality concerns, Health Concerns, Financial Concern, HIV Awareness, Satisfaction with Life Issues related to medication and Trust in the physician. The oral health data were collected by means of the DMFT index, use and need of dentures and the Community Periodontal Index, according to the criteria proposed by the World Health Organization, by a calibrated researcher. Bivariate and multiple linear regressions were performed. Of the participants, 53.1% were women and had a mean age of 42 years, 53.1% had eight years or less of schooling and 20.3% were not employed. In analyzing the quality of life domain of the HAT-QoL, with a lower average there was: Financial concern (39.4), followed by Confidentiality concern (43.2), Sexual activities (55.2) and Health concerns (62. 88). There was an association between the variables: do not have link to employment (p