Home About us Editorial board Search Ahead of print Current issue Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 
Home Print this page Email this page
Users Online:: 19855
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2010  |  Volume : 13  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 35-40

Awareness and attitude of nigerian dentists to occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis


Community Dental Health Unit and Orthodentic Unit, Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Sunny A Okeigbemen
Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State
Nigeria
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


Rights and PermissionsRights and Permissions

Background: The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus infection in Nigeria remains worrisome. Dentists are increasingly becoming at risk of occupational exposure to the virus. Post-exposure prophylaxis is known to reduce the risk of sero-conversion when appropriately administered. This study assessed the awareness and attitude of Nigerian Dentists towards post-exposure prophylaxis. Methods : A total of 177 Nigerian Dentists from the geopolitical regions of Nigeria were surveyed in 2003 by use of a self-administered questionnaire in a cross sectional, purposive, pilot study and assessed for awareness and attitude to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. Results: The mean age of respondents was 33.2 years (S.D = 7.66). Sixty-one percent were males while 39% were females. Seventy five percent are General Dental Practitioners and 25% Specialists. Similarly, 80.8% are government employed and 19.2% in private practice. About 58.8% of the total respondents reported being aware of occupational post exposure prophylaxis, 33.3% were not aware while 7.9% were unsure. About 84.7% indicated a willingness to accept, 5.1% were not willing to accept and 10.2% were unsure of whether to accept or reject the post-exposure prophylaxis regime. By geopolitical zone, Dental Surgeons from the South West (63.5%) were more aware of PEP than other zones while Dentists from the North Central and North West (88%) were most willing to accept post-exposure prophylaxis. Only 38.9% had attended continuing medical education on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency disease in the preceeding two years. Conclusion : This study indicates that slightly over half the population of Nigeria Dentists is aware of and have good attitude to occupational human immunodeficiency virus post-exposure prophylaxis treatment. Continuing medical education programmes on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency disease is recommended.


[PDF]*
Print this article     Email this article
 Next article
 Previous article
 Table of Contents

 Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
 Citation Manager
 Access Statistics
 Reader Comments
 Email Alert *
 Add to My List *
 * Requires registration (Free)
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed2019    
    Printed90    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded165    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal