VOLUNTARY HIV COUNSELLING AND TESTING AMONG MEDICAL DOCTORS AND DENTISTS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Voluntary HIV counselling and testing

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Globally, healthcare workers are at risk of 
acquiring HIV via sexual contact like the general population, but 
are also faced with additional occupational risk of injuries from 
needle pricks and sharps. Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) 
is an access point for HIV/AIDS education, clinical care, psychological support and motivation to modify behaviour aimed at 
reducing the risk of HIV transmission. 
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:  To determine knowledge, attitude and 
uptake of VCT for HIV/AIDS among medical doctors and dentists 
in South Western Nigeria. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross- sectional 
study was conducted among medical doctors and dentists within 
South Western Nigeria between January and June, 2014. Data was 
collected using self-administered questionnaires and analysed using 
SPSS version 15. 

RESULTS: Participants comprised 151 medical doctors (55%) and 
124 dentists (45%), a high level of knowledge about VCT (78.9%) 
was noted with a statistically significant higher level of knowledge 
about VCT among medical doctors compared to dentists (p= 
0.000). Also, there was a significant association between uptake of 
HIV testing and participants’ working experience such that the 
proportion of those who had done HIV testing increased with their 
years of practice (p= 0.037). Majority of the participants (95.2%) 
agreed with the idea of free treatment coverage for HIV positive 
members of staff and their sero- positive family members under 
workplace VCT services. 
CONCLUSION: Knowledge, uptake and support for workplace 
VCT among medical doctors and dentists in South Western Nigeria 
was high. There is need for more VCT facilities in the dental 
clinics.