Assessment of Oral Health Literacy Among HIV-Positive Patients at an ART Clinic in Rivers State

HIV-positive individuals have elevated oral disease risk, and assessing oral health literacy in this population identifies educational gaps that undermine oral health maintenance during antiretroviral therapy. This study assessed oral health literacy and oral health status among HIV-positive patients attending the ART clinic at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 280 HIV-positive adult patients was conducted. Oral health literacy was assessed using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (REALD-30) instrument. Clinical oral examination assessed oral mucosal lesions, periodontal status, and DMFT. Questions regarding awareness of HIV-related oral complications, dental visit frequency, and self-reported oral hygiene were included. Results showed that 48.2 percent had adequate oral health literacy. Oral mucosal lesions were identified in 38.6 percent, with oral candidiasis most prevalent. The mean DMFT was 3.12. Periodontal disease was present in 61.4 percent. Patients with adequate literacy showed significantly better periodontal indices. Dental visits were regular in only 21.1 percent. Awareness that antiretroviral medications can cause dry mouth was low at 14.3 percent. Recommendations include integrating oral health assessment into ART clinic protocols, training ART clinic nurses in oral health counselling for HIV patients, producing simple Pidgin-language oral health education materials, and establishing formal dental referral pathways from the UPTH ART clinic to the dental department.

Keywords: oral health literacy, HIV patients, ART clinic, REALD-30, Rivers State