AIDS Awareness among Clinical Dental Students of Karnataka, India.
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Date
2014-01
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Abstract
Objective: HIV-infected patients, with or without knowledge of their own serologic status are
seeking dental care in increasing numbers. Dental students are at the risk of exposure to the
HIV infections during their clinical training if adequate and stringent infection control measures.
The objective of the present study was to assess the level of understanding and awareness
of this disease among the third year clinical dental students at a private dental institution in
Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Materials and methods: A cross sectional survey of 100 third year clinical dental students of
Karnataka was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised
of sociodemographic details, apart from 8 questions on knowledge and 2 questions on
attitude towards HIV/AIDS patient. Descriptive analysis was carried out.
Results: The response rate was 100%. Majority of students’ knew that AIDS is a disease of
immunity. About 78% of the students knew that HIV/ AIDS is transmitted by contaminated
blood products. Eighty six percent of the subjects knew which test was done to detect AIDS
while others were not quite sure of it. Only 15% answered correctly regarding the percentage
risk of transmission of HIV to a health care worker following contaminated needle stick injury.
Most of the students were either not aware or not sure about the universal precaution measures
to be taken while treating an AIDS patient.
Conclusion: The results showed that the third year dental students of Karnataka, India had fair
knowledge and good attitude regarding HIV/AIDS. However it did reveal some of the inadequacies
and misconceptions regarding the disease among the dental students.
Description
Keywords
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, dental education, education, infection control
Citation
Amith H V, D’Cruz AM, Shetty S, Alexander V, Antony V, Alex V. AIDS Awareness among Clinical Dental Students of Karnataka, India. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 2014; 13(1): 20-24.