Hombres que tienen sexo con hombres y detección del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en odontología / Men who have sex with men and human immunodeficiency virus testing in dental practice

Objetivo: Determinar la percepción de hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) sobre la aplicación de la prueba rápida del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) 1/2 en el consultorio odontológico, y evaluar el estigma y la discriminación asociados a la orientación sexual percibidos en la consulta odontológica. Método: Estudio transversal mediante cuestionario autoadministrado y estructurado de tipo analítico contestado anónimamente por 185 HSH en México. Además de las variables sociodemográficas, la percepción sobre los servicios y los prestadores de servicios odontológicos, y sobre la aplicación de la prueba rápida anti VIH-1/2, se diseñó y exploró mediante una escala psicométrica tipo Likert la percepción del estigma y la discriminación asociados a la orientación sexual. El análisis estadístico incluyó análisis factorial y análisis de clusters no jerárquico. Resultados: El 86,5% se mostró a favor de la aplicación de la prueba del VIH-1/2 en la consulta odontológica. El 91,9% considera importante que el odontólogo esté capacitado y sensibilizado para realizar la prueba. El análisis factorial reveló dos factores: experiencias de estigma y discriminación en la consulta odontológica, y sentimientos de preocupación por la actitud del odontólogo o su personal hacia su orientación sexual. El análisis de clusters identificó tres grupos: usuarios que no han experimentado estigma ni discriminación (90,3%); usuarios que no han experimentado estigma ni discriminación, pero que sienten una ligera preocupación (8,1%); y usuarios que han experimentado algún tipo de estigma y discriminación, y sienten preocupación (1,6%). Conclusión: La consulta odontológica podría representar una ubicación para realizar la prueba rápida del VIH-1/2, contribuyendo en el diagnóstico temprano de la infección

Objective: To explore the attitudes of men who have sex with men (MSM) towards the implementation of rapid HIV-1/2 testing in the dental practice, and to evaluate MSM's perceptions of stigma and discrimination related to sexual orientation by dental care professionals. Methods: Cross-sectional study using a self-administered, anonymous, structured analytical questionnaire answered by 185 MSM in Mexico. The survey included sociodemographic variables, MSM's perceptions towards public and private dental providers, and dental services, as well as their perception towards rapid HIV-1/2 testing in the dental practice. In addition, the perception of stigma and discrimination associated with their sexual orientation was explored by designing a psychometric Likert-type scale. The statistical analysis included factor analysis and non-hierarchical cluster analysis. Results: 86.5% of the respondents expressed their willingness to take a rapid HIV-1/2 screening test during their dental visit. Nevertheless, 91.9% of them considered it important that dental professionals must be well-trained before administering any rapid HIV-1/2 tests. Factor analysis revealed two factors: experiences of sexual orientation stigma and discrimination in dental settings, and feelings of concern about the attitude of the dentist and dental staff towards their sexual orientation. Based on these factors and cluster analysis, three user profiles were identified: users who have not experienced stigma and discrimination (90.3%); users who have not experienced stigma and discrimination, but feel a slight concern (8.1%), and users who have experienced some form of discrimination and feel concern (1.6%). Conclusion: The dental practice may represent a potential location for rapid HIV-1/2 testing contributing to early HIV infection diagnosis

[Men who have sex with men and human immunodeficiency virus testing in dental practice]. / Hombres que tienen sexo con hombres y detección del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en odontología.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the attitudes of men who have sex with men (MSM) towards the implementation of rapid HIV-1/2 testing in the dental practice, and to evaluate MSM's perceptions of stigma and discrimination related to sexual orientation by dental care professionals. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using a self-administered, anonymous, structured analytical questionnaire answered by 185 MSM in Mexico. The survey included sociodemographic variables, MSM's perceptions towards public and private dental providers, and dental services, as well as their perception towards rapid HIV-1/2 testing in the dental practice. In addition, the perception of stigma and discrimination associated with their sexual orientation was explored by designing a psychometric Likert-type scale. The statistical analysis included factor analysis and non-hierarchical cluster analysis. RESULTS: 86.5% of the respondents expressed their willingness to take a rapid HIV-1/2 screening test during their dental visit. Nevertheless, 91.9% of them considered it important that dental professionals must be well-trained before administering any rapid HIV-1/2 tests. Factor analysis revealed two factors: experiences of sexual orientation stigma and discrimination in dental settings, and feelings of concern about the attitude of the dentist and dental staff towards their sexual orientation. Based on these factors and cluster analysis, three user profiles were identified: users who have not experienced stigma and discrimination (90.3%); users who have not experienced stigma and discrimination, but feel a slight concern (8.1%), and users who have experienced some form of discrimination and feel concern (1.6%). CONCLUSION: The dental practice may represent a potential location for rapid HIV-1/2 testing contributing to early HIV infection diagnosis.

Potential gingival crevicular fluid and serum biomarkers by stage of HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the potential of gingival crevicular fluid and serum cytokines as HIV stage biomarkers. METHODS: Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum samples from 78 HIV-positive adult male subjects (cases) and 39 HIV-negative male subjects (controls) from Mexico were examined for 17 cytokines using multiplex ELISA. Participants were divided into five subgroups by HIV stage of infection on age-specific CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and antiretroviral therapy (ART), and further correlated to the cytokine levels. RESULTS: GCF concentrations of IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, G-CSF and MCP-1, as well as serum concentrations of IL-1ß, IL-2 and IL-6 showed a statistically significant difference among subgroups. We found a significant effect size correlation on cytokines expression levels. Subjects who were not in ART showed significantly higher levels of some of the analyzed cytokines compared to the rest. We found that GCF IL-8 was a significant predictor for the Non-ART HIV status (p<0.05). We observed the same result for GCF G-CSF in the ART Short-term group and serum GM-CSF in the ART Long-term subgroup. CONCLUSION: Results indicate a high variability of GCF and serum cytokines concentrations and low frequency of their detection in different HIV/ART stages. However, within the limits of the present study, some GCF and serum cytokine concentrations correlate positively. Oral and periodontal innate immunity is affected by HIV viremia and ART. GCF IL-8, G-CSF, as well as serum IL-8, MCP-1 and GM-CSF may be useful biomarkers for the detection of disease presence and/or its severity due to HIV infection and ART use.

Dentistry and HIV/AIDS related stigma.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze HIV/AIDS positive individual's perception and attitudes regarding dental services. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-four subjects (30.0% of women and 70.0% of men) from Nuevo León, Mexico, took part in the study (2014). They filled out structured, analytical, self-administered, anonymous questionnaires. Besides the sociodemographic variables, the perception regarding public and private dental services and related professionals was evaluated, as well as the perceived stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, through a Likert-type scale. The statistical evaluation included a factorial and a non-hierarchical cluster analysis. RESULTS: Social inequalities were found regarding the search for public and private dental professionals and services. Most subjects reported omitting their HIV serodiagnosis and agreed that dentists must be trained and qualified to treat patients with HIV/AIDS. The factorial analysis revealed two elements: experiences of stigma and discrimination in dental appointments and feelings of concern regarding the attitudes of professionals or their teams concerning patients' HIV serodiagnosis. The cluster analysis identified three groups: users who have not experienced stigma or discrimination (85.0%); the ones who have not had those experiences, but feel somewhat concerned (12.7%); and the ones who underwent stigma and discrimination and feel concerned (2.3%). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a low percentage of stigma and discrimination in dental appointments; however, most HIV/AIDS patients do not reveal their serodiagnosis to dentists out of fear of being rejected. Such fact implies a workplace hazard to dental professionals, but especially to the very own health of HIV/AIDS patients, as dentists will not be able to provide them a proper clinical and pharmaceutical treatment.

Perceived HIV-Associated Stigma among HIV-Seropositive Men: Psychometric Study of HIV Stigma Scale.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the internal consistency and factor structure of the abridged Spanish version of the Berger HIV Stigma Scale (HSS-21), to provide evidence for its convergent and discriminant validity, and to describe perceived stigma in an urban population from northeast Mexico. METHODS: Seventy-five HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) were recruited. Participants answered the Spanish versions of three Likert-type scales: HSS-21, Robsenberg's self-esteem scale, and the abbreviated version of the Zung's Depression Scale. RESULTS: HSS-21 showed high reliability and validity; its factor structure included four components: concern with public attitudes; negative self-image; disclosure concerns; and enacted stigma. The level of stigma was high in 27 out of 75 (36%) participants; nevertheless, the score found in the component related to disclosure concerns indicated high level of stigma in 68% of participants. The score of HSS-21 was positively correlated with the score of depression and negatively correlated with the score of self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrated high reliability for the HSS-21; correlations with other scales supported its validity. This scale demonstrated to be a practical tool for assessing stigma among Mexican HIV-positive MSM. High level of stigma was found only in the factor related to disclosure concerns. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Identifying HIV-associated stigma through a short, reliable, and validated instrument will allow the development of interventions that cope and manage stigma in HIV-positive MSM. HSS-21 distinguishes between different dimensions of stigma and will contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon.

Dentistry and HIV/AIDS related stigma / La odontología y el estigma asociado al VIH

OBJECTIVE To analyze HIV/AIDS positive individual's perception and attitudes regarding dental services.METHODS One hundred and thirty-four subjects (30.0% of women and 70.0% of men) from Nuevo León, Mexico, took part in the study (2014). They filled out structured, analytical, self-administered, anonymous questionnaires. Besides the sociodemographic variables, the perception regarding public and private dental services and related professionals was evaluated, as well as the perceived stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, through a Likert-type scale. The statistical evaluation included a factorial and a non-hierarchical cluster analysis.RESULTS Social inequalities were found regarding the search for public and private dental professionals and services. Most subjects reported omitting their HIV serodiagnosis and agreed that dentists must be trained and qualified to treat patients with HIV/AIDS. The factorial analysis revealed two elements: experiences of stigma and discrimination in dental appointments and feelings of concern regarding the attitudes of professionals or their teams concerning patients' HIV serodiagnosis. The cluster analysis identified three groups: users who have not experienced stigma or discrimination (85.0%); the ones who have not had those experiences, but feel somewhat concerned (12.7%); and the ones who underwent stigma and discrimination and feel concerned (2.3%).CONCLUSIONS We observed a low percentage of stigma and discrimination in dental appointments; however, most HIV/AIDS patients do not reveal their serodiagnosis to dentists out of fear of being rejected. Such fact implies a workplace hazard to dental professionals, but especially to the very own health of HIV/AIDS patients, as dentists will not be able to provide them a proper clinical and pharmaceutical treatment.

OBJETIVO Analizar la percepción y las actitudes de las personas que viven con VIH/sida hacia los servicios odontológicos.MÉTODOS Participaron 134 voluntarios (30.0% mujeres y 70.0% hombres) de Nuevo León, México (2014), que contestaron un cuestionario estructurado de tipo analítico, auto-administrado y anónimo. Además de las variables sociodemográficas, fueron analizadas la percepción sobre los servicios y los prestadores de servicios odontológicos públicos y privados; igualmente se exploró mediante escala tipo Likert la percepción del estigma asociado al VIH/sida. El análisis estadístico incluyó análisis factorial y declustersno jerárquico.RESULTADOS Se presentaron desigualdades sociales en la búsqueda de atención de prestadores y servicios odontológicos públicos y privados. La mayoría ocultó su serodiagnóstico y concordó en que el odontólogo debe capacitarse en la atención del VIH. El análisis factorial reveló dos factores: experiencias de estigma y discriminación en la consulta odontológica y sentimientos de preocupación por la actitud del odontólogo o su personal hacia el serodiagnóstico del paciente. El análisis de clustersidentificó tres grupos: usuarios que no han experimentado estigma ni discriminación (85.0%); los que no han experimentado estigma ni discriminación, pero sienten una ligera preocupación (12.7%); y finalmente, los que han experimentado estigma y discriminación, y sienten preocupación (2.3%).CONCLUSIONES Se presentó un bajo porcentaje de estigma y discriminación en la consulta odontológica; sin embargo, la mayoría de las personas que viven con VIH/sida no revelan al odontólogo su serodiagnóstico por temor al rechazo. Estos hechos plantean un riesgo laboral para el odontólogo, pero especialmente para la propia salud de las personas que viven con VIH/sida, dado que el odontólogo no podrá proporcionar un tratamiento clínico y farmacológico adecuado.