Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus, attitudes, and willingness to conduct human immunodeficiency virus testing among Indian dentists.
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Date
2016-01
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Abstract
Context: India has the third‑highest number of people living with human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) in the world. Early diagnosis can prevent HIV transmission and since a large
proportion of the Indian population are likely to be seen in a dental setting, it may serve as an
important site for early HIV diagnosis.
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of HIV, attitudes, and willingness
to conduct HIV testing among Indian dentists.
Settings: A cross‑sectional survey of 503 Indian dentists was conducted in Delhi, Gandhinagar,
Bhubaneswar, and Hyderabad (representing low, moderate, and high HIV prevalence areas).
Subjects and Methods: HIV knowledge was measured using the HIV‑KQ‑18, and attitudes and
willingness were examined.
Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive analysis and Chi‑square test were performed using SPSS
version 21.
Results: A third of the respondents had a high HIV knowledge score. High knowledge scores
were positively associated with age group, level of education, and dental specialty. Over 73%
were willing to deliver HIV‑positive test results. Almost 80% of the respondents felt that
rapid HIV testing was needed in a dental setting. Attitudes and willingness were found to be
significantly related to the survey site suggesting cultural difference as an important factor in
taking up HIV testing.
Conclusions: General awareness of HIV among this sample of Indian dentists appears to be
low. The findings from this study however suggest that Indian dentists have expressed a need
for rapid HIV testing in dental setting with a strong emphasis on the need for further education
on HIV testing.
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Keywords
Dentists, human immunodeficiency virus, human immunodeficiency virus testing, India
Citation
Ngaihte Priscilla C, Santella Anthony J, Ngaihte Esther, Watt Richard G, Raj Sunil Saksena, Vatsyayan Vindhya. Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus, attitudes, and willingness to conduct human immunodeficiency virus testing among Indian dentists. Indian Journal of Dental Research. 2016 Jan-Feb; 27(1): 4-11.