Infection Control in Dental Practice in Uganda

Objective: To establish the relationship between knowledge and practice; and factors inhibiting dental practitioners from carrying out proper infection control principles and practices. Method: The practitioners in public dental units from Mulago hospital and Kampala City council clinics were enrolled into the study and asked to complete a questionnaire. Eighty practitioners responded of these 30 were randomly selected and their work practice observed and were also interviewed on infection control practices. Results: 80% had good knowledge about infection control. However the observed practice was not matching the knowledge levels. The reasons of not routinely practicing infection control despite the knowledge the findings were; 65% financial, 40% lack of necessary equipment, lack of time and 20% limited knowledge. Considering age, younger dental practitioners and female practitioners were found keener on essentials like taking history and routinely using protective wear compared to older and male practitioners respectively. Conclusion: this study shows there is urgent need to retrain dental practitioners in Uganda in infection control principles and practices in this era of blood-borne viral infections like HIV, HBV, EBOLA etc. Emphasis should also be given to equipping dental units with infection control supplies/items and appropriate devices. It is known world wide that dentistry involves invasive procedures and should be considered as a special area in terms of infection control in the practice of medicine