The Overlooked Risk: HCV Infection Awareness and Prevalence Among Patients Attending Periodontology Clinic

Aim: The most common transmission route for Hepatitis C is through penetrating injuries, and dental practice poses a risk for transmission. Thus, awareness of hepatitis C should be increased and made an integral part of dental practice. Ourstudy aimed to assess awareness levels and HCV prevalenceamong patients attending the Periodontology clinic. Material and Methods: Our study is a descriptive cross-sectional study consisting of a single group which included198 patients. A closed-ended questionnaire consisting of 34 questions was created to measure awareness and knowledgelevels regarding HCV. A rapid anti-HCV test was performedon the patients who completed the questionnaire. Results: The participants’ average age was 37.1±13,97 years, comprising 56.57% female and 43.43% male. Among them, 46.46% are high school graduates, 29.8% hold universitydegrees, and 23.74% are elementary school graduates. No significant relationship was found between the responses tothe survey questions and demographic data (p > 0.05). Amongthe 198 patients, 6 (3.03%) tested positive for the rapid anti-HCV test, with 66.7% being elementary school graduates withlow-income. Of the 34 questions analyzed, 9 had an awarenessrate of 50% or higher, while the remaining 25 questions werebelow 50%. Conclusion: The research indicates that the participants have a poor level of awareness regarding HCV. Finally, by raisingawareness and providing information about HCV, it is possibleto ensure that existing infected individuals have access totreatment and to prevent new individuals from becominginfected. In this way, the material and moral burden of HCV infection in society can be reduced