Periodontal Health Status of Hiv Discordant Couples at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital,ampath Clinics

Abstract

ackground: Periodontal diseases are highly prevalent and are a public health concern. Severity of periodontal diseases depends on host immune response which is affected by genetic and environmental factors. Studies have shown that HIV is a modifier of periodontal diseases although the mechanisms are not clearly understood.Therefore,early diagnosis and management is important in management of these lesions especially in vulnerable groups such as HIV discordant couples. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out among one hundred and ninety four HIV discordant individuals in AMPATH outpatient clinics over a three month period. HIV status was confirmed through Elisa in AMPATH laboratories and information was available in the medical records.Socio-demographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices and oral health-seeking behavior were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire. Oral hygiene status was measured using Silness and Loe(1964) plaque index, while gingival inflammation was measured using Loe and Silness(1963) gingival index. Periodontitis was assessed by the amount of Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL). Results:Mean age for participants was 42.3 ±11.7. Periodontal parameters by HIV-Serostatus were clinically similar. However, HIV positive individuals had a lower gingival score which was statistically significant (χ2=8.00, df= 2, p=0.018). Chronicperiodontitis was the most prevalent periodontal disease with 37.1 % of participants recording severe levels of the disease. `

Conclusion:Periodontal parameters in HIV positive and HIV negative participants were clinically similar although, there was a reduction in gingival inflammation seen in HIV positive participants. Prevalence of severe chronic periodontitis in this sample population was high. Therefore it is recommended that measures be put in place to actively diagnose and treat periodontal diseases among HIV infected and non-infected individuals.