Knowledge and Practices of Dental Surgeons Working in Private Clinics about Hepatitis B and C

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B and C viruses are extremely infectious and significant work-related hazard for health care workers. The dental practices mostly include direct exposure to body fluids of patients and contact with instruments and material infected with hepatitis B and C viruses. Aim: To evaluate the knowledge and practices of dental surgeons regarding hepatitis B and C working in the private clinics. Method: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out during January, 2017 among 120 dental surgeons of Multan. Data was collected through questionnaire, which was entered in SPSS ver 20.0. Results: Out of 120 dental surgeons, 90% were males and 75.8% were above 30 years old. Among them, 100.0% had adequate knowledge regarding hepatitis B and C transmission. Only 39.2% dental surgeon used disposable gloves and syringes for safety purposes and majority (75.8%) attended workshops regarding management of hepatitis B and C. 100% dental surgeons imparted knowledge about adequate sterilization of instruments to their staff. Conclusion: Among dental surgeons, knowledge about hepatitis B & C and its transmission was satisfactory. Dental surgeons were fully awareness regarding diagnosis procedure, sterilization and safety precautions against hepatitis B and C. Further effectors are required to create awareness among dental surgeons regarding WHO guidelines of hepatitis B and C management.