This summer time was challenging due to data collection for my research project Prognostic implications of oral health status in HIV positive women.
Why focus on women? Women are often excluded from studies or not enrolled in the studies for various reasons and now global epidemiological data shows that almost half of HIV positive individuals are female.
The situation in Russian Federation is similar. Russia has one of the largest HIV epidemics in Europe, with 589 581 registered cases and 58 633 new HIV cases in 2010(HIV Federal Center report), an incidence 20% higher than during the previous years. The prevalence of HIV-infection in the country is still dominated by men (64.9%), however, this gap is closing due to increased incidence among women in recent years. In fact, during the period 2004-2010, 41-43% of new HIV infections were among women, double the 20.6% among women in 2000. New cases among women are predominantly caused by heterosexual contact (64.7% of new cases), and among men the primary mode of transmission is injecting drug use (74.5% of new cases). There has also been a notable rise in HIV transmission during sexual contact among reproductive-age women, from 7.6% in 2006 to 38.0 % in 2010.
In St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia, 39 809 cases of HIV have been reported since 1987, including 13 144 women (33% of all cases). Consequently, St. Petersburg also has the unfortunate distinction having the most HIV-positive pregnancies in Russia.
The age group most affected by HIV infection is those 18 to 30 years of age. The majority of these patients are, or soon will be, in the secondary stage of disease progression with diverse clinical manifestations, and are seeking surgical, dermatovenerological, and dental care.
The total number of female patients visiting a dentist at the St. Petersburg City AIDS Center (CAC) has increased 71% from 255 (Jun-Dec2009) to 436 (Jun-Dec2010). The number of HIV-positive pregnant women has skyrocketed from 4 to121 during the same period.
Limited access to a full range of dental care services for HIV-infected women results in poor dental hygiene, a risk factor for transmission of oral bacteria, including cariogenic, as well as the risk to the fetus of premature delivery and low birth weight.
High caries prevalence was observed with a few oral lesions . This may have a substantial impact on health and quality of life in this vulnerable population.
Next study focused on unmet dental needs among HIV positive women. The self-administered survey was developed to assess information about demographic and perceived oral health status, along with dental needs of HIV-positive women.
I will post links of the articles once they are accepted.
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