Objective: In order to improve support offered to HIV/AIDS patients in their activities of daily life, we have investigated their needs with respect to receiving adequate access to dental treatment.
Methods: Of 84 HIV/AIDS patients who sought dental care, we introduced 38 patientsto dental clinics outside our hospital between July 2001 and June 2002. We surveyed our records and interviewed all 38 HIV/AIDS patients.
Results: 1) The main criteria for selecting the dental clinic were that the clinic be open on Saturdays or in the evenings and that it be accessed easily. 2) Of the 36 dental clinics contacted, 18 responded favorably to our direct initial inquiry of treatment availablity. Meanwhile, the other 18 clinics responded with some apprehension. 3) Of the 38 patients, 27 were individually introduced to different preferred dental clinics with letters of introduction, 6 received dental treatment by us at our hospital, and the other 5 did not find preferred dental clinics on our list. 4) Of the 27 patients introduced, 6 patients later responded they did not follow through with the arranged introduction.
Discussion: It was found that HIV/AIDS patients wanted to receive dental treatment without interference to their work, childcare, or other activities. However, it as concluded that the level of service provided by us did not fully satisfy the needs of the patients. In order to meet the needs of HIV/AIDS patients wishing to receive dental treatment, improved active cooperation with various dental clinics is necessary. To achieve this, further education about HIV infection must be provided to dental professionals. In this regard, we should assist dental professionals developing more efficient care and an infection control system based on standard precautions while giving consideration to protecting the patient's right to privacy.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify gay-specific milestone events among Japanese gay and bisexual men, and to investigate the relationship between mental health status and HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD)-related knowledge and sexual HIV risk practices.
Subjects and method: Anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in gay and bisexual men recruited through snow balling procedures. Of 184 subjects accessed, the data of 149 men (81.0%) who experienced a sex with men were used for analysis. Mental health status was measured using standardized psychological scales.
Results: Major gay-specific milestone events such as “becoming aware of same-sex attraction” and “self identified as gay or bisexual” mostly occurred before 20 years of age. HIV/STD-related knowledge was generally high in this population. Oral and anal intercourses were practiced by 98% and 84.5% of the respondents, respectively. Consistent condom usage rate was found generally low, being 0% for oral sex, 34.6% for men experiencing only insertive anal intercourse (IAI), 33.0% for men experiencing only receptive anal intercourse (RAI), and 17.1% for those experiencing both insertive and receptive anal intercourse (IRAI). Among the RAI and IRAI, the lower the level of mental health according to the questionnaire on psychological profiles, the more unprotected sexual practice was observed by the logistic regression analysis with age and HIV/STD knowledge level adjusted. However, the same association was not found in IAI.
Conclusion: The present study clearly showed the frequent occurrence of gay-specific milestone events in the early stage of life and that unprotected sexual practice was prevalent among the participants. With the significant association between unsafe sexual practice and mental health status, this study suggests that psychological support as well as knowledge/skill provision may be integral to promote condom use age, at least for some Japanese gay and bisexual men.

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Objective: To clarify the state of support provided by medical staff for the sexual health of people with HIV (PWH), and related factors.
Methods: Four focus-group discussion sessions and two semi-structured interviews involving members of the medical staff directly involved in the support for sexual health of PWH, were carried out in September and October 2003, and the data obtained were analyzed.
Results: The data suggests that the staff members recognized the importance of supporting for sexual health of PWH, but that they also considered the actual support to be insufficient. As factors related to this state, the following 5 points were categorized: 1) Lack of confidence and hesitation in providing support for sexual health, 2) shifting between the position of a medical professional and that of an unbiased person, 3) diversity of the contents for consultation regarding sexual health, 4) patients selecting suitable consultants from among the medical staff members, and 5) inadequacy of the team care system for providing support for sexual health.
Conclusion: These factors are considered to be based on the facts that there is no consensus among those involved in giving care, either in-or outside of the hospitals that medical staff should provide support for the sexual health of PWH, and that few medical facilities have announced to patients that they can provide consultation concerning their sexual health. Such a situation urgently requires correction.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the annual trends in the reported number of Japanese HIV/AIDS cases, and the distribution of sex, age and route of infection. The increasing trend of reported AIDS cases at the onset of the Japan epidemic was also compared with those of other industrialized countries.
Materials and Methods: HIV/AIDS surveillance data through December 2001 were utilized. As for the comparison of increasing trends at the onset of the epidemic, the Epidemiological Facts Sheets organized by the UNAIDS/WHO (United Nations Programme on AIDS/World Health Organization) were used. Nine industrialized countries, the USA, EU (European Union) (51 countries of the WHO European Region), Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France were selected for comparisons.
Results: Comparisons of Japanese HIV/AIDS with other industrialized countries revealed that the annual trend in reported cases was still increasing. The proportion of people with HIV aged 40 or above was high, and the proportion of males with HIV infected through heterosexual contact was extremely high. The increasing trend in reported AIDS cases at the onset of the Japan epidemic was extremely slow compared to that in other countries. In particular, there were differences in the number of cases infected through MSM (men who have sex with men), including bisexual contact, and or IDU (injecting drug use).
Conclusion: The epidemiological characteristics of HIV/AIDS in Japan, such as annual trends, and the distribution of sex, age and route of infection were revealed by comparisons with the surveillance data from nine other countries.

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