KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF HEPATITIS B, C, AND HIV AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS OF KABUL UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, KABUL-AFGHANISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Keywords:
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Dental students, knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Kabul University of Medical Sciences.Abstract
Background: HIV attacks the body’s immune system, hepatitis B and C can develop into serious chronic diseases that often remain without symptoms for decades. Dentists are among high risk groups of these viruses and their knowledge, attitude and correct practices about it can play a significant role in protecting themselves and our society. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of dental students regarding hepatitis B, C and HIV infections.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 261 dental students of Kabul University of Medical Sciences between October and December 2022. Proportional Quota Sampling technique was used to collect the data and data were analyzed using SPSSv25.
Results: The results of this study showed that 42.3% of the students had good knowledge, 53,8% had moderate and 3.6% had poor knowledge about hepatitis B, C and HIV. About attitude, 19.9% had good attitude, 61% had moderate and 19.1% had poor attitude. As for Practice, 43.82% had good practice, 44,3% had moderate and 9.9% had poor practice. In this study female students had better knowledge than males (49.3% vs. 33.9%). There was not much difference between female and male students’ attitude and practice level. Moreover, the practice and knowledge of lower classes was poorer than higher classes. In this study (10.4%) had received all three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. The reasons for not receiving the vaccine were mostly lack of access, poor economy and lack of sufficient information.
Conclusion: In this study, most students' knowledge, attitude and practice about hepatitis B, C and HIV were moderate. Considering that dental students are at high risk of these viruses, the risk of transferring from them to public and the community is high, thus, more efforts should be made to increase the knowledge, attitude and practice of them about these viruses.
