Oral HIV Testing: Acceptability and Feasibility In Community-Based Dental Setting

Objectives: This study aims to assess HIV-related screening status and risk behaviors/perceptions among high-risk patients, to determine the acceptability and feasibility of offering an oral HIV testing in a community-based dental setting.
Methods: A total of 82, medically-underserved, high-risk patients from two community-based dental clinics in Texas, Houston (N=62) and Arlington (N=20), participated in our study. Participants completed a 25-item survey, using Qualtrics. Questions were related to participant demographics, HIV status, HIV-related screening history, risk behaviors and individual risk perception about HIV infection. Data were analyzed using Stata/SE 15.1.
Results: Participants were predominantly HIV positive [n=51, (63%)], male [n=47, (58%)], heterosexual [n=49, (61%)], and mean age (years): 51.98 ± 1.46 SD. Very few [n=23 (29%)] reported engaging in high-risk behaviors in the past one year. A very small proportion [n=19 (30.65%)] believed they were at high-medium risk for acquiring HIV infection, and only [n=21 (32%)] were worried about contracting HIV. Majority said they were tested for HIV [n=54 (67%)]. Confirming positive/negative HIV status was the most common reason for taking the test [(n=20 (50%)]. Very few reported advice from parent(s)/peer(s)/educator(s) as their motivation for HIV screening [n=3 (5.0%)]. Only a small proportion indicated their dental provider (assistant/hygienist/dentist) discussed getting tested for HIV [n=19 (23.5%)]. On the same lines, only [(n=7 (9.0%)] reported they were offered an HIV test by a dental provider.
Conclusions: Majority of our sample reported a history of undergoing voluntary, HIV testing. This self-generated motivation for HIV screening, to an extent indicates future willingness to adopt more promising, and efficient methods for HIV screening. Being susceptible to oral health problems, at-risk individuals are frequent visitors to community dental clinics. Therefore, introducing oral HIV testing/screening in community dental settings is a potential strategy in the promotion of early diagnosis and treatment initiation for HIV/AIDS.