Stigmatization against people who live with HIV/AIDS by Dentistry students.

Objectives: To characterize the stigmatization against people who live with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) by Dentistry students in Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Methods:
Mixed study with qualitative and quantitative data. A semi-structured survey of 20 questions was designed based on a USAID study "Measuring HIV stigma" and then posted on a Facebook application. Students were invited to participate on a voluntary basis. Those who agreed to participate, filled out the informed consent form (required to access and complete the survey).
Results: Of a total of 66 participants, 62% would take additional measures to those provided by the Biosecurity Universal Standards to provide clinical care for PLWHA, 24% would not provide dental services, 18% would provide care in separate facilities and 11% would feel unsafe touching clothing or belongings of PLWHA. In the hypothetical case of living with HIV, 25% would be willing to report their diagnosis to their partner/family and 23% to health care personnel; 23% of participants would feel fearful and secretive about their health, 22% said they would suffer discrimination and 19% would be isolated by shame.

Conclusions: Not to provide care to PLWHA, to provide care in separate and/or "special measures” facilities, to feel unsafe touching clothing and/or items, would increase the stigma already experienced, violating bioethical principles and undermines the ideal of providing equal treatment to everyone and to remove barriers to access to health services, regardless of the HIV status. This stigma carries misperceptions that negatively influence future dentists and perpetuate the belief that PLWHA belong to an abnormal group. To eradicate this stigma against PLWHA, bioethics proposes to abandon prejudices and misinformation about the HIV pandemic, provide equal treatment, and seek excellence in clinical care. These will generate a timely approach of PLWHA to care services, eliminate barriers and improve their quality of life.