World Journal of Dentistry

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Volume  15 (2024)
Volume  14 (2023)
Volume  13 (2022)
Volume  12 (2021)
Volume  11 (2020)
Volume  10 (2019)
Volume  9 (2018)
Volume  8 (2017)
Volume  7 (2016)
Volume  6 (2015)
Volume  5 (2014)
Volume  4 (2013)
Volume  3 (2012)
Volume  2 (2011)
Volume  1 (2010)
Related articles

VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 2 ( March-April, 2022 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices about HIV: A Pilot Study among Tunisian Dentists

Amira Besbes, Wafa Nasri, Rabaa Nafti, Cyrine Bennasrallah

Keywords : Attitudes, Dentists, HIV, Knowledge, Practices, Questionnaire

Citation Information : Besbes A, Nasri W, Nafti R, Bennasrallah C. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices about HIV: A Pilot Study among Tunisian Dentists. World J Dent 2022; 13 (2):155-160.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1919

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 31-01-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim and objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Tunisian dentists about HIV/AIDS. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional pilot study was carried out on Tunisian dentists using an online survey. The questionnaire included 34 questions investigating knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the participants. Knowledge attitudes and practices were assessed according to three different scales. Results: A total of 234 dentists participated in the study. This study showed that 33% of the respondents demonstrated sufficient level of knowledge and 36% of them demonstrated good level. About 90% of them showed excellent practices. In addition, 54% of the participants had neutral attitudes and 42% had positive attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. A significant negative correlation between age and knowledge score was found (p = 0.001). A significant association between knowledge score and the period experience less than 5 years (p = 0.022) was found. Conclusion: Tunisian dentists had good knowledge and adequate practices about HIV. About a half of the participants expressed hesitation in treating patients with HIV/AIDS. Dental and therapeutic continued education programs are needed to improve their attitudes. Clinical significance: Good knowledge, attitudes, and practices about HIV in the dental setting allows to ensure an adequate dental care for people living with HIV/AIDS and to enhance infection control and safety for both patients and dental staff.

HTML PDF Share
  1. Dhanya RS, Hegde V, Anila S, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards HIV patients among dentists. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2017;7(2):148–153. DOI: 10.4103/jispcd.JISPCD_57_17
  2. Aggarwal A, Panat SR. Knowledge, attitude, and behavior in managing patients with HIV/AIDS among a group of Indian dental students. J Dent Educ 2013;77(9):1209–1217. DOI: 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2013.77.9.tb05594.x
  3. Prabhu A, Rao AP, Reddy V, et al. HIV/AIDS knowledge and its implications on dentists. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2014;5(2):303–307. DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.136171
  4. Ellepola ANB, Sundaram DB, Jayathilake S, et al. Knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS of dental students from Kuwait and Sri Lanka. J Dent Educ 2011;75(4):574–581. DOI: 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2011.75.4.tb05082.x
  5. Khosravanifard B, Rakhshan V, Ghasemi M, et al. Tehran dentists’ self-reported knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and observed willingness to treat simulated HIV-positive patients. Easter Mediterr Health J 2012;18(9):928–934. DOI: 10.26719/2012.18.9.928
  6. Singh VP, Osman IS, Rahmat NA, et al. Knowledge and attitude of dental students towards HIV/AIDS Patients in Melaka, Malaysia. Malays J Med Sci 2017;24(3):73–82. DOI: 10.21315/mjms2017.24.3.9
  7. Alwafi HA, Meer AMT, Shabkah A, et al. Knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS among the general population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. J Infect Public Health 2018;11(1):80–84. DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.04.005
  8. Rostamzadeh M, Afkhamzadeh A, Afrooz S, et al. Dentists’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding Hepatitis B and C and HIV/AIDS in Sanandaj, Iran. BMC Oral Health 2018;18:220. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-018-0685-1
  9. Gunardi I, Salsabila Nurina N, Marcia null, et al. Dentists experience influences knowledge and attitudes toward HIV patients in West Jakarta, Indonesia, and validation of a new questionnaire. Oral Dis 2020;26 Suppl 1:127–132. DOI: 10.1111/odi.13393
  10. Tavakoli A, Karbalaie Niya MH, Keshavarz M, et al. Current diagnostic methods for HIV. Future Virol 2017;12(3):141–155. DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2016-9999
  11. Wyżgowski P, Rosiek A, Grzela T, et al. Occupational HIV risk for health care workers: risk factor and the risk of infection in the course of professional activities. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2016;12:989–994. DOI: 10.2147/TCRM.S104942
  12. Wilburn SQ, Eijkemans G. Preventing needlestick injuries among healthcare workers: a WHO-ICN collaboration. Int J Occup Environ Health 2004;10(4):451–456. DOI: 10.1179/oeh.2004.10.4.451
  13. McCarthy GM, Ssali CS, Bednarsh H, et al. Transmission of HIV in the dental clinic and elsewhere. Oral Dis 2002;8 Suppl 2:126–135. DOI: 10.1034/j.1601-0825.8.s2.3.x
  14. Al-Naimi R, Knowledge G. Attitude and health behavior of dental students towards HIV patients. Al-Rafidain Dent J 2009;9:110–119. DOI: 10.33899/rden.2009.8991
  15. Serb P, Yeung S. HIV infection and the dentist. 1. The presence of HIV in saliva and its implications to dental practice. Aust Dent J 1994;39(2):67–72. DOI: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.1994.tb01375.x
  16. Page-Shafer K, Sweet S, Kassaye S, et al. (C2) Saliva, breast milk, and mucosal fluids in HIV transmission. Adv Dent Res 2006;19(1):152–157. DOI: 10.1177/154407370601900127
  17. Khan F, Shams S, Qureshi ID, et al. Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab. Virol J 2011;8(1):225. DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-225
  18. Sadeghi M, Hakimi H. Iranian dental students’ knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients. J Dent Educ 2009;73(6):740–745. DOI: 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2009.73.6.tb04753.x
  19. Li R, Dong W, He W, et al. Chinese dental students’ knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. J Dent Sci 2016;11(1):72–78. DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2015.09.001
  20. Park J-C, Choi S-H, Kim Y-T, et al. Knowledge and attitudes of Korean dentists towards human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome. J Periodontal Implant Sci 2011;41(1):3–9. DOI: 10.5051/jpis.2011.41.1.3
  21. Gemeda T, Gandile A, Bikamo D. HIV/AIDS Knowledge, attitude and practice among Dilla University Students, Ethiopia. Afr J Reprod Health 2017;21:49–61. DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2017/v21i3.4
  22. Labra O, Lacasse A, Gingras-Lacroix G. Attitudes et connaissances d’étudiants universitaires à l’égard du VIH-sida 2018;63(2):1–20. DOI: 10.7202/1046496ar
  23. El-Maaytah M, Al Kayed A, Al Qudah M, et al. Willingness of dentists in Jordan to treat HIV-infected patients. Oral Dis 2005;11(5):318–322. DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2005.01126.x
  24. Lee C, Fan Y, Starr JR, et al. Dentists’ and dental students’ attitudes, knowledge, preparedness, and willingness related to treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS in China. J Public Health Dent 2017;77(1):30–38. DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12168
  25. Jahan MS, Shaikh MH, Begum J, et al. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the dental students in Dhaka. Update Dental College Journal 2012;2(2):23–27. DOI: 10.3329/updcj.v2i2.15531
  26. Neenu E, Sharma V, Bhat PK, et al. Barriers in providing dental treatment to HIV/AIDS patients. Int J Contemp Med 2017;4(6): 1402–1405. ISSN (Online): 2393–915X.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.