Perception of HIV/AIDS among preclinical dental students

Objective. To determine the knowledge, attitude and willingness of preclinical dental students to treat HIV/AIDS patients in the future. Method. The sample comprised 150 students of both genders drawn from the third and fourth year dental students of the University of Benin, Benin City. One hundred and fifty questionnaires were self-administered, with 139 (92.6%) retrieval. The parameters measured were knowledge, status, immunization against hepatitis B virus, willingness to treat, knowledge of post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and its protocol in the of University of Benin Teaching hospital (UBTH). Results. Data analysis showed that 100 (71.9%) students rated their knowledge of HIV/AIDS as high and very high. Sixty-three (45.3%) students thought that HIV was a contagious disease while 46 (33.1%) felt HIV was more infectious than tuberculosis or any of the strains of hepatitis virus. Only 59 (42.4%) students knew their HIV status. One hundred and twenty seven (91.4%) students felt that professional oral health care will be beneficial to HIV/AIDS patients; while fifty-one students (36.7%) are not prepared to administer dental care to HIV/AIDS patients in future. Majority of respondents adjudged health workers to be more at risk than sex workers. Forty students comprising 28.8% of the study population had been immunized against Hepatitis B. Ninety- four (67.7%) students had no knowledge of PEP while 122 (87.8%) students did not know the PEP protocol in UBTH. Conclusion. Although a large number of these students claim to be knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. It is obvious that a true understanding is lacking. Concerted effort should be made to change their perception by implementing a curriculum designed to enhance the knowledge of dental students; if we hope to save HIV/AIDS patients from the discrimination of future healthcare givers

Perceived Visual Deterioration among a Selected Group of Dental Surgeons in Nigeria

To assess the perceived visual deterioration and the determinants among selected dental surgeons in Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of Resident doctors attending the Revision course of Faculty of Dental Surgery of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria was conducted in October, 2008. The 21-item self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain demographic information, medicated eyeglass use, self-rating of vision on start of dental practice, self-rating of vision presently, self-rating of illumination in dental operatory, procedure that can be done without adequate illumination and procedures that need light enhancers. Majority of the respondents were male, in the 31-35 year age group, had less than 10 years post-graduation experience and are specializing in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Perceived visual deterioration was reported by 22 (36.1%) of the respondents. Respondents who are 46-50 years, male, with >_ 10 years of experience, using medicated eyeglass and specializing in Restorative dentistry reported higher perceived visual deterioration. The prevalence of use of medicated eyeglass was 22 (36.1%). The illumination of dental operatory was good by 35 (57.4%) of the respondents using a self-rating scale. The predominant procedures performed under limited illumination were oral surgical 16 (26.2%) and orthodontic 16 (26.2%). Light enhancers were advocated by respondents mostly during restorative procedures. Perceived visual deterioration in this study was high. This justifies the need for assessment of vision at employment and longitudinal assessment of vision annually inorder to objectively ascertain the level of visual deterioration.Keywords: visual deterioration, perception, eyeglasses, dental surgeons, Nigeri