Percepção de gestantes convivendo com HIV/AIDS e de cirurgiões-dentistas sobre assistência em saúde bucal a essa população

Abstract

Introduction: In Brazil, Up until June 2015, 92,210 pregnant women were declared infected by HIV. This represents a rate of 2.6 cases for every 1,000 new-borns, and an increase of 30% of cases from 2000 to 2015. It is estimated that every year 100 pregnant women are diagnosed by the public health service as HIV positive in the Federal District. Dental assistance for these women as well as assessment of this service are important since many of the initial manifestations of immunosuppression occur within oral cavities. Objective: The main objective of this research was to study what kind of perception pregnant women have of living with HIV/AIDS and that which dental surgeons have of oral healthcare provided to this population. Methods: The mixed simultaneous outline was opted as a method. A qualitative approach was used by way of a semi-structured interview carried out with HIV/AIDS positive pregnant women who are users of the National Health Service – SUS and cared for at the South Regional Mixed Health Unit of the Health State Secretariat of the Federal District (Unidade Mista de Saúde da Regional Sul, da Secretaria de Estado de Saúde do Distrito Federal - SES/DF). A quantitative approach was used for the dental surgeons data by way of applying a structured questionnaire, which was sent by e-mail to SES/DF‘s practitioners. Sample of the research comprised 5 pregnant women and 143 dental surgeons. Interviews with the pregnant women were analysed by applying Bardin‘s content analysis method (2011). Statistical analysis was carried out with the dental surgeons‘ data, which resulted in absolute and percentage frequency of each relevant data by use of Chi-Square to test for independence between variables. Results: Pregnant women showed hesitation to prejudice as well as professional, social or family discrimination, although they have evaluated reception and treatment on mixed unit as humanized. For them the HIV treatment and care to prevent mother-to-child transmission have been priorities in relation to the perception of the importance of oral health. The majority of dentists who participated in the research have already had experience in attending HIV-positive patients, where 20% of them said that they had already provided care for HIV-positive pregnant women and 60% said that HIV-positive pregnant women could be cared for in any health unit. Assessment of adequate biosafety conditions was a determining factor for the perception of professional preparedness and attitude towards caring for HIV-positive patients. Conclusions: Results of this research showed a sense of preparedness and attitude by the majority of dentists towards caring for HIV-positive pregnant women, as long as adequate biosafety conditions are followed. Receptiveness and a humanised treatment for HIV pregnant women free from either prejudice or discrimination should be a constant preoccupation by oral health practitioners. We understand that these results can sensitize managers so that permanent educational actions can be implemented and assessment of biosafety standards throughout all SES/DF healthcare units can be carried out in a continuous way.