Knowledge, attitude, reported behaviour and perceived challenges to adhering to infection control measures in dental practice among dental practitioners in Tanzania

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude, reported behavior and the perceived barriers to routine use of infection control measures in dental practice among dental practitioners working in government dental clinics in Tanzania mainland. Methods: A 56 items questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, practices and perceived barriers to infection control was mailed to all dental practitioners working in government dental clinics in Tanzania mainland. The data was analyzed with SPSS program using descriptive statistics. Results: Of 177 mailed questionnaires, 125 were returned (70.6% response rate). Male respondents were 77.6%. Over 90% were knowledgeable on, and had positive attitude towards different infection control measures. Only 15.9% reported to had sterilized a bur, 42.8% to have sterilized an excavator always before using in patient’s mouth during the past one month; and 53.2% washed hands with soap before and immediately after treating each patient always during the past one month. Finances and having too many patients to attend to, were reported barriers to routine adherence to infection control measures. Conclusion: From this study it can be concluded that the dental practitioners working in government dental clinics in Tanzania were knowledgeable on, and displayed positive attitudes towards different infection control procedures in dental clinics, although displayed very low to low levels of adherence to most infection control procedures. Reported reasons for failure to adhere to infection control procedures were financial and having too many patients to attend to. It is recommended that a mechanism to ensure that dental practitioners are routinely adhering to the infection control procedures should be put in place and further studies are recommended on this area of oral health care to improve quality of oral health services in Tanzania

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