Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus, attitudes, and willingness to conduct human immunodeficiency virus testing among Indian dentists

• Main Authors: Priscilla C Ngaihte, Anthony J Santella, Esther Ngaihte, Richard G Watt, Sunil Saksena Raj, Vindhya Vatsyayan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dental Research
• Subjects: Dentists; human immunodeficiency virus; human immunodeficiency virus testing; India
• Online Access: http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2016;volume=27;issue=1;spage=4;epage=11;aulast=Ngaihte

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.