title: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Infection Control among Dental Students at Sana'a University, Yemen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding infection control procedures among senior dental students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 145 4(th)- and 5(th)-year dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry, Sana'a University, Yemen. The self-administered questionnaire was comprised of 20 open- and close-ended items regarding barrier techniques, vaccination status, infection control practices, and awareness. Data were analyzed with a Chi-square test. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 72% (145 out of 204 potential respondents). Overall, 71.7% of the students had been vaccinated for hepatitis B and only 9.5% were tested for post-hepatitis B virus immunization serology. While the vast majority (96.6%) reported always wearing gloves for all dental procedures, the use of face masks and eyewear were reported by only 53.8% and 14.0% of students, respectively, with no significant difference between genders and year of study (P > 0.05). A significantly higher percentage of 5(th)-year students (58.9%) showed positive attitudes toward the treatment of patients with infectious diseases, as compared to only 31.0% of 4(th) year students (P < 0.01). A great number of students (62%) reported non-sterile occupational percutaneous and mucous injuries while treating their patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These unsatisfactory findings highlight the necessity of continued infection control education in order to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding infection control among dental students at Sana'a University.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnosis, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana'a University, Yemen.
authors.forename: Esam Saleh
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Halboub
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnosis, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana'a University, Yemen.
authors.forename: Sadeq Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Maweri
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnosis, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana'a University Yemen.
authors.forename: Aisha Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Jamaei
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing, Saudi.
authors.forename: Bassel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarakji
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnosis, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana'a University Yemen.
authors.forename: Walid Ahmed
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Al-Soneidar
keywords: Dental students; Yemen; infection control; knowledge; practice