AEGiS-15IAC: Knowledge of university students regarding HIV/AIDS and their attitude toward acquisition of HIV/AIDS in dental office in Iran, Shiraz, 2003.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Knowledge of university students regarding HIV/AIDS and their attitude toward acquisition of HIV/AIDS in dental office in Iran, Shiraz, 2003.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10334)

Askarian M, Jafari P, Rezaeianzadeh A
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran

BACKGROUND: The HIV epidemic in Iran appears to be accelerating at an alarming trend. Number of 1159 newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases in 2001 showed a three-fold increase compared to the previous years 2000 and 1999. For the first quarter of 2003, from 4846 infected patients, 851 (17.5%) lived in the province of Fars. This study was performed to study the knowledge of the study group regarding HIV/AIDS and attitude regarding its transmission in dental office and their desire to continue their treatment in a dental office where patients or dentist have been infected with HIV.

METHODS: This questionnaire-based study was planed in a cross sectional design and was conducted from October to November 2003 in Shiraz University students of different years of education. The Chi-square, multiple logistic regression, Kruskal-wallis and Mann-Whitney U test were applied, when appropriate. RESULTS: Results showed, 96.6%, 83.8% and 79.1% of 2801 participants knew that the main way for transmission of HIV is via blood, semen and vaginal secretions respectively. The mean score of the knowledge in married persons was significantly higher than singles (P<0.001). Data indicates that mean score of knowledge in those who change their dentist if know that s/he treats patients with hepatitis B is significantly higher than those who will continue their treatment in such offices (P<0.001). Finally, multiple logistic regression showed that the attitude of of students regarding HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B transmission has significant association with the level of education.

CONCLUSION: Our finding indicates that there is a need to increase public trust regarding infection control practices in dental office together with good infection control policies with better practice by dentists via continuous infection control educational programs.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Dental Offices, Knowledge, Attitude, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Dentists, Students, Questionnaires, Infection Control, Attitude of Health Personnel, Disease Outbreaks, Iran, Humans, Female, transmission

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E10334