FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MEXICO-CITY DENTISTS WILLINGNESS TO TREAT AIDS HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS/

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteri stics and infection control practices of dentists in Mexico City in re lation to their willingness to treat AIDS/HIV-positive patients. Study design. The population study encompassed Mexico City dentists who wer e selected according to a geographic criterion. A questionnaire was de livered personally to each participant, and multiple logistic regressi on was used for data analysis. Results. A total of 598 dentists partic ipated in the study. The response rate was 99.3% (598/602). Seventy-fo ur percent (444) of the dentists said they would be willing to treat A IDS/HIV-positive patients. Among the variables associated with the pre diction of willingness to treat these patients were glove-wearing patt erns (odds ratio, 2.39; confidence interval, 1.4-4.2), types of availa ble sterilization equipment (odds ratio = 2.42; confidence interval, 1 .4-4.1), fear of losing non-AIDS/HIV-positive patients (odds ratio = 4 .28; confidence interval, 2.3-8.4), and risk perception of HIV transmi ssion (odds ratio = 2.66; confidence interval, 1.5-4.9). An interactio n was found between perception of risk of HIV transmission and increas e in costs (odds ratio = 3.35; confidence interval, 1.3-8.9). Conclusi ons. Approximately 26% of the Mexico City dentists included in the stu dy were not willing to treat AIDS/HIV-positive patients. Educational p rograms aimed at misperceptions appear to be warranted.