Knowledge, attitudes and practices of oral health professionals with regard to the hepatitis B virus in their workplace, Harare.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Harare oral health professionals regarding Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in the workplace. Design: A cross sectional study was conducted using a structured 36 item interviewer administered questionnaire to collect data from consenting participants. Setting: The study was conducted at private and public dental practices in Harare. Participants: Oral health professionals comprising dentists, dental therapists and technicians were purposively sampled and interviewed. Results: Eighty nine study participants were interviewed. Seventy four (83%) and 69 participants (77.5%) knew about the potential transmission through contact with blood and saliva respectively. Forty seven (52.8%) participants knew that HBV infection is incurable. Thirty five participants (39.3%) were unaware of the ability of HBV to remain infective in dried blood. Although 22 participants (25%) stated that there was potential for transmission of HBV to patients at their workplace, 81participants (92%) felt they were at risk of contracting HBV infection at work. Sixty one participants (69%) reported being vaccinated, but on verifying the vaccine doses the participants received, 35 (39.3%) received three doses, 15(17%) two doses and 11 (12.4%) one dose. Forty six per cent of the fully vaccinated participants (16 of 35) had a post-HBV vaccination test. Seventy nine (87%) and 83(93.3%) professionals stated consistent use of face masks and gloves during procedures respectively. Conclusion: Although the oral health professionals in Harare appreciated the risk of HBV transmission in dental settings, they had incomplete knowledge of HBV infection and there was poor uptake of HBV vaccination among these professionals.

The role of dental practitioners in Provider Initiated HIV Counseling and Testing (PITC) for patients attending dental practices in Harare, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of Zimbabwean dental practitioners in Provider Initiated HIV Counseling and Testing (PITC). DESIGN: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data from participants. SETTING: Harare private and public dental practices. SUBJECTS: Forty dental practitioners practicing in Harare and two hundred and ninety three patients attending dental practices in Harare were interviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dental practitioners' practices on HIV counseling and testing for dental patients, acceptability of HIV testing in dental settings and missed opportunities for HIV counseling and testing in dental settings were assessed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Half of the dental practitioners (20) interviewed reported offering HIV counseling to dental patients during their clinical duties. The majority 62% only referred their patients for HIV testing when they presented with oral manifestations of HIV infection. Seventy three percent (29) of practitioners interviewed were not aware of the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare guidelines on HIV counseling and testing. Eighty seven percent (255) of dental patients in this study reported not being counseled nor referred for HIV counseling and testing by their dental practitioner during their dental visits. More than a third (36.5%) of the dental patients experienced repeated missed opportunities for accessing HIV counseling and testing in health settings. The minimal that the dentists may need to be involved with in PITC is counseling their patients and improve referral for care. There is need for continued medical education for dentists on issues related to new HIV interventions or protocols such as PITC.