Willingness of high school students to be treated by an HIV infected health practitioner. a study done in dar es salaam, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE To assess willingness of high school students to be treated by HIV/AIDS infected dental practitioners in Ilala municipality, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODOLOGY This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. RESULTS More than half (52.8%) of the high school students showed fear of being treated by HIV/AIDS infected dental practitioner, with 175 (55.4%) out of 316 students fearing even to be clinically examined by HIV positive dental practitioner. Out of 316 students, 163 (51.6%) students showed no problem in consulting a HIV/AIDS infected dental practitioner for dental problems. There were 170 (53.8%) respondents who were uncomfortable to undergo dental treatment provided by HIV positive dental practitioner. CONCLUSION The results of this study showed that there is fear an element of negative attitude and stigmatization among high school students on being treated by HIV/AIDS infected health care practitioner.