title: HIV infection and oral health care in South Africa.
abstract: This study determined the knowledge, attitude and practice of oral health care workers in public clinics in South Africa towards HIV/AIDS and investigated the implementation of infection control measures. A total of 727 questionnaires were distributed to dentists, dental therapists, oral hygienists and chairside assistants in the public dental clinics of 9 provinces, of which 276 were returned from 8 provinces, giving a response rate of 38%. The questionnaire covered demographic factors and assessed issues such as knowledge, infection control practices, continuing education, legal, ethical and psychosocial issues and available support for HIV/AIDS. The common oral manifestations seen by respondents were candidiasis, acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG), hairy leukoplakia and Kaposi's sarcoma. Of the 174 who had a previous HIV test, 48% were for insurance purposes and 21% for post-needle-stick injury. Over 10% of the respondents indicated that gloves were not available at all, that there was an inadequate supply of water, and that there was no autoclave in their clinic. Nearly 50% of the clinicians had not had hepatitis B vaccination in the last 3 years. Fifteen respondents (5.4%) were not willing to treat HIV-positive patients. Only 48% had access to a written post-exposure management protocol and post-exposure medication was available to only 36.6%. The vast majority of the respondents clearly expressed a need for additional education on HIV/AIDS. The study demonstrated a need to add knowledge, enhance personal skills and improve the application of universal precautions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Dentistry, Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ogunbodede
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D003815:Dentists / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D005260:Female; D005892:Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental; D017733:Leukoplakia, Hairy / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000175:diagnosis; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines