Abstract
Hepatitis B virus transmission in a dental setting more commonly occurs due to inadequate/improper use of safety measures by the dentist. This particular study evaluated the hepatitis B virus infection related awareness among dental graduates. A validated questionnaire regarding the awareness about hepatitis infection and various infection control measures was distributed among the students of different year of study in undergraduate bachelor dental graduate program. Final year students showed an increased awareness when compared to third year students. There is need for improving the knowledge among the nonclinical students, mainly on transmission of virus through salivary contact. The overall awareness among the students is only fairly satisfying, which signifies the need for continued infection control education among the students. Keywords: Knowledge, Awareness, Dental students, Hepatitis B.
Highlights
Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is an inflammatory disease of liver due to double stranded virus of the hepadnaviridae family. 1 Hepatitis B infection possesses a major health concern and is the most common blood borne viral infection, placing health care workers and medical and dental professionals at higher occupational risk. 1 The other mostly common communicable diseases include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).The possible forms of transmission of hepatitis virus include unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusion, reuse of contaminated needles, and vertical transmission from mother to child during pregnancy.[2]
There were no significant differences between the mean knowledge scores and gender and course of study
A significant number of nonclinical students knew that HBV can be transmitted through saliva (P < 0.01) and a significant number of clinical students reported that dentists routinely experience needle stick injuries (P = 0.02)
Summary
Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is an inflammatory disease of liver due to double stranded virus of the hepadnaviridae family. 1 Hepatitis B infection possesses a major health concern and is the most common blood borne viral infection, placing health care workers and medical and dental professionals at higher occupational risk. 1 The other mostly common communicable diseases include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).The possible forms of transmission of hepatitis virus include unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusion, reuse of contaminated needles, and vertical transmission from mother to child during pregnancy.[2]. Two billion people in the world have been infected by HBV and there are nearly 350 million people who are chronic carriers.[4] HBV infections are 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV.[5] Hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection can become persistent and show the way to cirrhosis of liver and even liver cancer It is mainly acquired in the course of contaminated needles or tainted blood products and infection patterns are diffuse. 6 Among the professionals, dentists are placed in high risk group as actual sufferers and carriers with a grim picture It is of prime importance for all dental schools, medical staff, and dental staff to conduct talks and create awareness about hepatitis B infection
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