Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: The objective of the present study was to investigate knowledge and attitude of senior dental students towards HIV/AIDS. Its result could help in promotion of education.

Materials and Methods: This educational research was carried out in two state dental schools in Tehran. The senior dental students in Tehran and Shaheed Beheshti dental schools were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire regarding their age, gender, parents' job, knowledge and attitudes towards treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS in Autumn semester 2007. Fifty five dental students (83%) including 27% male and 73% female in Shaheed Beheshti and fifty five dental students (85%) including 34% male and 66% female in Tehran dental schools were participated. The score for knowledge and attitude of the students were calculated separately. The data were analyzed using Independent sample t-test.

Results: The mean percentage of knowledge and attitude scores were 76.5% (at rang 1-3) and 50% (at range 1-5), respectively. Nearly all of the students believed that all patients should be considered as HIV positive in dental practice, while 49% preferred to refer HIV positive patients. Knowledge and attitude of students were not significantly associated with the gender and knowing HIV positive person (P>0.05).

Conclusion: There is a need to improve knowledge and attitudes of dental students towards HIV/AIDS. It is suggested to emphasize on this subject in dental schools curriculum in Iran.

  Background and Aims: AIDS-associated oral lesions are important, in terms of diagnostic-prognostic role and monitoring patients moreover some of them may reduce patient’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV patients.

  Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among a total of 62 HIV⁺ patients who attended a counseling and treatment center in Rasht. Demographic information, drugs and laboratory status were extracted from patients’ files. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions with multiple linear regressions.

  Results: From 62 cases, 50 were male and 12 female and the mean age was 40.5±11.3 years. 59 patients had oral lesions including periodontal disease (95%). The most prevalent oral lesions included: periodontitis (67.7%), oral candidiasis (41.9%) of erythematous (35.4%) and pseudomembranous types (6.45%) and angular cheilitis (12.9%). Patients with removable denture presented a higher rate of erythematous candidiasis and angular cheilitis (P=0.001). In this study, periodontal diseases were rosed by the post-diagnosis years (P=0.024) and the antiretroviral medications (P=0.002). Patients on the prophylactic medications (P=0.043) were less likely to have erythematous candidiasis age may caused angular cheilitis (P=0.041). Pseudomembranous candidiasis was inversely correlated with CD₄ + L levels (P=0.052).

  Conclusion: The majority of the cases in this study were IV drug user males within the 4th decade of life. Although oral lesions were not common, but the dental and periodontal statuses exhibited poor oral hygiene which need more attention.