Self-Perceived and Unmet Need for Dental Care among Plwha

Objectives:This study set out to determine the self-reported unmet health needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in a Nigerian population. Since the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, various treatment modalities have been proposed to meet their health needs, but little has been done to determine whether these needs are being met. Methods:A prospective study was conducted among 209 consenting PLWHA in the Southwestern Nigeria. All consenting PLWHA in Ife-Ijesa Zone of Southwestern Nigeria who sought for care in the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex, Ile-Ife and General Hospital, Ilesa were recruited. Participants completed a comprehensive survey seeking information to determine their unmet needs in the following areas: Medication, Dental, Mental, Home care, Hospital admission, access to antiretroviral therapy and emergency services. Analyses identified the relationships between unmet health needs and stage of disease, presence of medical insurance, source of care in the last one year and living arrangements. Results:One or more unmet needs were reported by 79.4% of the sample. Needs for medication, home-based care and mental care were more likely to be unmet. Only a few participants needed emergency care. There was a statistically significant relationship between unmet needs and living arrangements. Perceived oral health status was the factor that best predicted the unmet need. Conclusions:PLWHA would benefit if family were assisted to care more for them. Oral health status of these patients should be improved to reduce the level of the unmet needs.