SOURI (SMILE) - PROJECT SUMMARY Miami, Florida, is an epicenter for new HIV diagnoses in the US,1 and Haitian individuals have been disproportionately affected.2 In the population of over 300,000 Haitian individuals living in Miami,3 Haitian women suffer from various health disparities, including poor HIV outcomes, and have the highest HIV-related mortality among immigrants.2,4 Haitian women face numerous barriers to care, such as language, cultural context, financial resources, and immigration status, which worsen their health outcomes.5 We have previously described that women living with HIV have unmet dental needs impacting oral health and oral conditions such as periodontitis associated with HIV may be worse among women due to hormonal changes.6,7 Chronic use of antiretroviral therapy for HIV has also been associated with decreased saliva, impairing chewing and swallowing while increasing the risk of dental caries, and worsening quality of life.8 Oral health is essential in one’s overall well-being, and poor oral health has been connected to mental health concerns and worsened HIV-related outcomes, which may only be exacerbated for Haitian women.5,9,10 Unfortunately, there is limited data regarding oral health among Haitian women, a marginalized, underserved population. Additionally, there is a gap in understanding how social determinants of health play a role in oral health among Haitian women. We hypothesize that barriers to accessing health care impact oral health. This project will have the following aims: Aim 1: Evaluate social determinants of health, mental health, and cultural factors impacting the unmet oral health needs of Haitian women with and without HIV in Miami. Aim 2: Adapt and pilot culturally tailored measures to evaluate oral health quality of life and mental health, and assess oral health among Haitian women with and without HIV.
