AIDS and infection control: experiences, attitudes, knowledge and perception of occupational hazards among Nigerian dentists.

A questionnaire survey of 79 Nigerian dentists aged 21-60 years was carried out to evaluate their experiences, attitudes, knowledge, and infection control practices in relation to HIV infection. Their perceptions of various occupational hazards were also probed. 84.4% of them held the view that HIV-infected/AIDS patients should be treated in special treatment clinics. The risk of becoming infected was the paramount fear expressed by 88.6% of the dentists. This fear can be explained by the inadequate facilities in various dental clinics reported by 79.7% of them. Despite their lack of clinical experience in the management of oral manifestations of AIDS, a large proportion of them were quite knowledgeable. However, HIV infection was perceived with the highest degree of concern as the greatest occupational hazard by 87.2% of the dentists. Interdisciplinary collaboration among health professionals should be intensified to enhance prompt referral and comprehensive treatment of AIDS patients.