Undergraduate Preclinical and Clinical Dental Students' Perception of Teaching Received, Knowledge and Attitude with Regards to HIV/AIDS

Objectives: To evaluate undergraduate students’ perception of teaching received with regards to HIV/AIDS. Also to compare between preclinical and clinical, male and female students in their knowledge toward potential routes of transmission, associated lesions, infection control procedures and attitude of either to refer or treat these patients.

Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional institutional based study among 279 undergraduate dental students; preclinical were 154 and clinical were 125. Participants were selected by systematic random sampling from eight dental schools in the Khartoum State. Self administered questionnaire including questions regarding demographic data, perception, knowledge and attitude toward HIV/AIDS virology, associated lesions, and route of transmission, sterilization and infection control measures. Comparison between variables by Ch-Squire test with the level of statistical significance set at P value ≤ 0.05.

Results: The response rate was 91.3%. The majority (87.7%) believed that AIDS is a real problem in Sudan. More than half of the participants recognized the lesions associated with HIV and 61.3% knew that T-lymphocytes are primarily the host defense cells which are affected in AIDS. Less than half (44.4%) answered that they do not have any previous knowledge regarding the average time interval between contracting HIV and the production of antibodies. The majority thought; that AIDS patients should be treated at any dental center but felt special precautionary measures were necessary during treatment. Some thought they should be referred to other specialized centers. The fear of treating HIV-infected patients was further revealed by the inadequate knowledge of HIV transmission routes.

Conclusion: Overall knowledge about HIV/AIDS oral manifestations was satisfactory, the majority felt they can treat patients with AIDS, but thought special precautions were needed. No difference was found between preclinical and clinical, male and female regarding perception of teaching received on HIV/AIDS.