Concerns and attitude of dental students towards HIV infected individuals

Abstract

To determine attitude and concerns of University of Benin final year dental students towards HIV infected individuals. The entire final year dental students of University of Benin who were treating patients at the University Outpatient Clinics at the time of the study were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Less than half (46.6%) had done HIV testing and 40(69%) had had hepatitis B vaccination. One third of the respondents (32.7%) would be comfortable having HIV-infected roommate or classmate. Only 1(1.7%) will recommend expulsion of HIV-infected dental student. One third of the respondents (32.8%) will keep status of infected family member as a secret but 32(55.2%) agreed that disclosure of positive result by dental patients is geared toward cross infection prevention. The respondents that agreed that HIV-infected dentist must inform their patient before treatment is 18(31%). Twenty-five (43.1%) respondents would receive treatment in dental clinic that offer care to HIV-infected individuals and only 17 (29.3%) would allow HIV-infected dentist to treat their relative or friend. Thirteen (22.4%) believed that dentist has the right to refuse treatment to HIV infected patient. Interpersonal relations that were reported that would adversely affect intention to treat HIV-infected individual include 8(13.8%), family members and friends, and 22(37.9%) other patients. Twenty-nine (50%) will continue to treat patients when they are already diagnosed HIV positive. Discriminatory attitude among respondents was low but significant concern about personal risk due to treatment of HIV-infected patient needs to be addressed by health care professional tutors.