I Kadek Pendi Aprianta, Dentistry Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
Ni Putu Putri Ayu Oktaviana, Dentistry Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
Ni Wayan Florina Warashanti, Dentistry Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
Abstract
Aim: to study the knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS amongst a dental HIV/AIDS care group in the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University.
Materials and Methods: the study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. This survey was conducted on 50 members of dentistry HIV/AIDS care group in Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University. The members completed a predesigned self-administered questionnaire comprising 11 questions assessing their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and 11 questions evaluating their attitude towards HIV/AIDS. The total score percentage of the respondents' knowledge was categorised as excellent, good, moderate and weak - while total score percentages for attitude was categorised as positive, negative, and passive.
Result: the study involved 50 members of dentistry HIV/AIDS (42 female and 8 male). The total mean knowledge score was 14.32 with the highest score being 18 and the lowest score 6 - while the total mean attitude score was 37.14 with the highest score being 44 and the lowest score 29.
About 30 female respondents and 6 male respondents had a good knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Furthermore 37 female respondents and 6 male respondents had a negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS. The study revealed that of 36 respondents with a good knowledge of HIV, 30 respondents had a negative attitude and 6 respondents had a passive attitude towards HIV/AIDS.
Conclusions: the findings suggest that although majority of the respondents have a good knowledge about HIV/AIDS, their attitude to the issue remained negative.
Keywords: AIDS, Attitude, Dentistry, HIV, Knowledge
