KNOWLEDGE, CONCEPTION AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS HBV AND HCV AMONG DENTISTS IN DUHOK PROVINCE; KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ

ABSTRACT Background: Healthcare workers including physicians, dentists, nurses and laboratory workers are considered to be among the groups at the risk of blood-borne pathogen transmission. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and conception of Duhok province dentists toward bloodborne viruses HBV and HCV regarding transmission, treatment, and prevention; furthermore, to know their attitude in dealing with HCV or HBV positive patients Method: It’s a cross sectional that had performed by asking dentists from Duhok province to fulfill a standardized online based questionnaire. There were four main parts in the questionnaire; demographic data collection, general HBV and HCV information, attitude questions and prevention questions. Result: One hundred eighty-seven dentists had participated in the study, 54% were males. The mean age of the participants was 28.48 ± SD 7.53. The mean experience years of study population was 5.87 ± SD 6.39. Eighty-one (43.3%), 122 (65.2%), and 101 (54%) dentists out of 187 had good knowledge, favorable attitude, and good preventive practices toward HBV & HCV, respectively. Good knowledge frequency was more common among dentists whose ages were above 40 years, and among those with MSc or PhD degree, p=0.016 and 0.03, respectively. Whilst good preventive practices against HBV & HCV was more common among more experience dentists p= 0.001, 0.008 respectively. HBV vaccine coverage is 98.8% Conclusion: Duhok dentists at under and post- graduate levels necessitates improving educational programs and regular dental auditing. The HBV vaccine coverage is highly satisfactory.