Knowledge, practices and attitudes of clinical years dental students at the University of Nairobi towards HIV/AIDS patients

Abstract

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have profoundly affected every aspect of the public health sector. There isa possibility of HIVtransmission in the oral health care setting and thus adequate knowledge and proper barrier techniques among dental students and oral health care providers is vital to prevent the chances of transmission. Objectives: To determine the knowledge, practices and attitudes among clinical year dental students at The University of Nairobi, towards HIVIAIDS patients. Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study Setting: This study was conducted at the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital, a regional teaching referral Hospital in Nairobi. Materials and Methods: Pre-tested self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all clinical year undergraduate dental students in their third and fourth years of study. Results: Majority (84.45%) ofthe students indicated that the subject of HIVIA IDSwas well taught in the University of Nairobi, with67.3% of them indicating they got their knowledge on HIV/AIDS from lectures. Lessthan a half (27%) of the students reported the possibility of HIV transmission via saliva. Pseudomembranous Candidiasis (PMC) was named as the main oral manifestation of HIV/AIDS by 72.34% of the clinical years dental students. More than a third (41.82%) of the students do not inquire about their patient's HIV status during treatment procedures. There were 44(78.6%) students who reported that they would change their management of a patient who is established to have HIV during treatment procedures. This change of management would not however lead to isolation of these patients according to 93% of the students. Conclusion: Most of the clinical years' dental students in the university of Nairobi have adequate knowledge in the management of HIV positive patients and practice proper cross infection prevention measures. Moreover, majority of the clinical years' dental students have positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients that does no lead to stigmatisation of these patients.