Attitude and knowledge of dental students of National Capital Region regarding HIV and AIDS

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Students towards HIV and Its Oral Manifestations in Saudi Arabia—A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It is essential for practicing dentists to have adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its implications in the dental practice. Their attitudes should also be up to the professional expectations. This study aimed to assess knowledge of HIV/AIDS infection and attitudes towards its patients among dental students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A questionnaire was prepared and distributed among a sample of dental students in Saudi Arabia. Twenty questions related to knowledge, attitudes, and oral manifestation of HIV were presented. Results: A total of 405 questionnaires were completed (67% response rate). Participants showed low knowledge of safety regarding HIV (39.5%) and 44.2% indicated that they would take an HIV test after needle stick injury. The proportion of correct answers regarding transmission of HIV through saliva, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and aerosols by hand pieces was 41%, 37.5%, and 26.4%, respectively. Almost 50% of the surveyed dental students expressed unwillingness to treat HIV-positive patients. Poor knowledge was noted regarding oral manifestations of HIV (32.7%). Of the participants, 57.8% indicated that infection control procedures are very important for the treatment of HIV patients and 50.6% believed that a dentist can make a decision to reject the treatment of HIV patients. According to the participating dental students, the three major oral manifestations in HIV patients are hairy leukoplakia (47.4%), oral candidiasis (44.7%), and Kaposi’s sarcoma (43.5%). Conclusion: Inadequate knowledge and unprofessional attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients were identified among this group of dental students in Saudi Arabia. Dental educators and health care planners in Saudi Arabia should plan to promote the knowledge and attitudes of dental students in Saudi Arabia towards the treatment of HIV patients.

Knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 studies from 2010-2020

Background: Several studies assessed the level of knowledge and general public behavior on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in India. However, comprehensive scrutiny of literature is essential for any decision-making process. Our objective was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the level of knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS in India.

Methods: A systematic search using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free terms was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases to investigate the level of knowledge and attitude of HIV/AIDS in India population. Cross-sectional studies published in English from January 2010 to November 2020 were included. The identified articles were screened in multiple levels of title, abstract and full-text and final studies that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved and included in the study. The methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s checklist for cross-sectional studies. Estimates with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each domain were pooled to examine the level of knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS in India.

Results: A total of 47 studies (n= 307 501) were identified, and 43 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS was 75% (95% CI: 69-80%; I2 = 99.8%), and a higher level of knowledge was observed among female sex workers (FSWs) 89% (95% CI: 77-100%, I2 = 99.5%) than students (77%, 95% CI: 67-87%, I2 = 99.6%) and the general population (70%, 95% CI: 62-79%, I2 = 99.2%), respectively. However, HIV/AIDS attitude was suboptimal (60%, 95% CI: 51-69%, I2 = 99.2%). Students (58%, 95% CI: 38-77%, I2 = 99.7%), people living with HIV/AIDS (57%, 95% CI: 44-71%, I2 = 92.7%), the general population (71%, 95% CI: 62-80%, I2 = 94.5%), and healthcare workers (HCWs) (74%, 95% CI: 63-84%, I2 = 0.0%) had a positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS. The methodological quality of included studies was "moderate" according to Joanna Briggs Institute’s checklist. Funnel plots are asymmetry and the Egger’s regression test and Begg’s rank test identified risk of publication bias.

Conclusion: The level of knowledge was 75%, and 40% had a negative attitude. This information would help formulate appropriate policies by various departments, ministries and educational institutions to incorporate in their training, capacity building and advocacy programs. Improving the knowledge and changing the attitudes among the Indian population remains crucial for the success of India’s HIV/AIDS response.

Knowledge and Awareness about HIV and AIDS among Iraqi College Students

Background:

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are the major global public health problems since their discovery in 1983. Knowledge and awareness about the transmission of the virus play an important role toward prevention and the control of the disease. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness about HIV and AIDS among university students of two Iraqi Universities (Diyala and Al-Nahrain) by using a constructed self-administered questionnaire.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 506 students from two Iraqi Universities using a constructed self-administered questionnaire in 2010 and 2017 for Diyala University and in 2017 for Al-Nahrain University. Data obtained from the students’ responses were collected and statistically analysed. The level of knowledge and awareness was measured according to Bloom’s cut-off point.

Results:

The study comprised 506 students from the two universities, 341 were females with a mean age of 22.38±4.99 years and 165 were males with a mean age of 22.38±4.99 years. Data revealed that participants, regardless of their gender, on specific questions had different levels (high, moderate and low) of knowledge and awareness about HIV and AIDS. A high level was seen with the causative agent of AIDS and its transmission through blood transfusion, unprotected sexual contact, and sharing needle injection. However, a moderate level was observed regarding antenatal vertical transmission of HIV, shared use of a toothbrush or a razor. While there was inadequate or low knowledge and awareness about HIV spread through breast feeding, during birth, needle sharing and the availability of vaccines. The levels of knowledge and awareness among female students were significantly higher than males in most studied parameters (P=0.03-0.006). The general knowledge and awareness among Diyala’s students declined during the second survey scheduled in 2017 compared with that done in 2010 (P=0.004) for undefined reasons.

Conclusion:

The general knowledge and awareness about HIV and AIDS was fair among Iraqi students. With the increasing number of HIV cases in Iraq, the inadequacy in knowledge and awareness about spread and prevention of HIV must be considered in the public health strategy and education programs that should comply with Islamic rules and values.

Prevention of HPV-Related Oral Cancer by Dentists: Assessing the Opinion of Dutch Dental Students

The aim of this study is to assess dental students' opinions of the dentists' role in primary prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oral cancer using a cross-sectional web-based survey. A questionnaire, containing questions about knowledge of HPV and oral cancer, confidence in head and neck examination and role of the dentist in preventing HPV-related oral cancer, was sent to all students of the Academic Centre of Dentistry Amsterdam (n = 912). One hundred and twenty-six (n = 126) students completed the questionnaire. Significantly, more master students (75%) than bachelor students (54.3%) were aware that HPV is a causative factor for oral cancer. Master students had more knowledge of HPV than bachelor students, but knowledge about HPV vaccination was irrespective of the study phase. The majority of dental students agreed that it is important to discuss HPV vaccination with patients. Eighty-nine percent of the students think that more education about symptoms of oral cancer will increase screening for oral cancer. Development of a protocol for screening in dental practices was considered even more important. According to dental students, dentists should discuss HPV as a risk factor for oral cancer with patients. Future dentists are willing to be involved in both primary and secondary prevention of HPV-related oral cancer. Therefore, screening for oral cancer and education about HPV vaccination should be integral elements of the dental curriculum.

Role of ethical beliefs and attitudes of dental students in providing care for HIV/AIDS patients

Introduction

Dental care has remained as an unmet need for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Dental students are considered as future healthcare workforce and having beliefs which are discriminating may have negative attitudes towards providing care to these individuals (Azodo et al., 2010). The study aimed to assess the ethical beliefs and attitudes of dental students towards PLWHAs for providing care.

Methods

It is a descriptive correlational and cross sectional study. Nine public and private dental schools in Malaysia participated in the study. Data was collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire.

Results

A total of 481 dental students participated in this study, yielding response rate of 78%. Majority of the participants (74%) believed that patients’ HIV status should be disclosed to patients’ sexual partner without permission. Approximately 60% of the participants reported that rooms/beds of HIV patients should be clearly marked. Regarding patient disease status 28% of the students reported that it is appropriate to test a patient for HIV/AIDS without patient’s permission. Only Fifty five percent of the students expressed the willingness to treat HIV patients and 49% reported to held fear of getting infected while treating patients with HIV/AIDS. Sixty four percent of the participants reported to be more comfortable giving care to non-HIV patients than HIV-positive patients.

Conclusion

Dental students’ ethical beliefs about HIV/AIDS were not consistent with the ethical principles as stated in the code of ethics and they held negative attitudes towards PLWHAs. Ethical beliefs were found to be a determinant that may influence future attitudes of these students towards individuals with HIV/AIDS when providing care.

Dental patients' knowledge and awareness about transmission ways of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the patients' attitude, knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS. And secondary aim was to assess the need for further education about HIV/AIDS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire of 39 items was used to evaluate the patients' knowledge. 301 patients were included (mean age 37.12±7.85 years, 41.5% male, 58.5% female) in the study. Results were calculated by Students t-test, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Most of the patients had accurate knowledge about transmission ways, however transmission through breastfeeding (31.6%), public restrooms (44.9%), and insects and mosquitos bite (47.2%) were less recognized. Saliva (32.2%), urine (36.9%), tears (58.5%), sweat (54.5%), breast milk (30.6%), feces (36.9%) and cerebrospinal fluid (7.3%) were less recognized body fluids. Generally university and postgraduate educated patients had more accurate knowledge than other groups. 63.1% of patients thought that they need further education about HIV/AI DS.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS was almost agreeable. However, the patients had deficiencies with respect to their knowl-edge. Therefore the authors of this study believe that there must be education programs related to HIV/AIDS.

Atenção à saúde bucal das Pessoas que Vivem com HIV/Aids na perspectiva dos cirurgiões-dentistas

Este artigo descreve a dimensão do processo de atenção à saúde bucal das Pessoas que Vivem com HIV/Aids em Fortaleza (CE), sob a ótica dos dentistas. Estudo transversal quantitativo descritivo-analítico. A coleta de dados foi realizada aleatoriamente com 170 dentistas do Sistema Único de Saúde, Centros de Saúde da Família e Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas. Para a análise estatística, calculou-se o teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson, T Independente e Correlação de Spearman. O acesso, a estrutura física, a biossegurança e a formação profissional não são considerados satisfatórios para a atenção e influenciam na predisposição dos profissionais em atender esses pacientes.