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| ORIGINAL RESEARCH |
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| Year : 2016 |
Volume
: 27 | Issue : 1 | Page
: 4-11 |
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Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus, attitudes, and willingness to conduct human immunodeficiency virus testing among Indian dentists
Priscilla C Ngaihte1, Anthony J Santella2, Esther Ngaihte3, Richard G Watt4, Sunil Saksena Raj1, Vindhya Vatsyayan5
1 Department of Academics and Research, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
2 Department of Health Professions, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA
3 Department of Economics, Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
4 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
5 Department of Research, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
Correspondence Address:
Priscilla C Ngaihte
Department of Academics and Research, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.179806
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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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