TITLE:
Knowledge and Attitude of Health Care Workers toward Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in King Abdulaziz Medical City
AUTHORS:
Fahad A. Al-Owais, Mohammed S. Al-Abdullah, Adel F. Al-Othman
KEYWORDS:
AIDS, Stigma, Knowledge, Health Care Workers
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.5 No.2,
June
26,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: Worldwide data
shows that the stigma and discrimination for AIDS patients by health care
providers have a negative impact on its epidemic. It discourages people from
seeking care or being tested for HIV, thus reducing access to HIV/AIDS
prevention. The study aims to evaluate the knowledge of the HCWs (health care
workers) in King Abdulaziz Medical City about human immunodeficiency virus infection
and their attitudes whenthey
encounter HIV/AIDS patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was designed
to collect data using self-administered structured questionnaire from 90 health
care workers. It was distributed among HCWs in different wards in King
Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh in August 2014. Results: The study included a
total number of 90 heath care workers, of which 31 were physicians and 59 were
nurses. Around 81 (90%) of HCWs knew the causative agent for AIDS. Only 22
(24%) of HCWs knew the level of risk of HIV transmission following needle stick
injury. Most of HCWs 66 (73%) knew that sexual practice was the most common
mode of transmission. Around 27 (87%) of physicians and 33 (56%) of nurses were
able to answer that antiretroviral therapy had the ability to control
HIV-infection. In addition, 9 (10%) of HCWs believed that AIDS was curable.
Conclusion: It was obvious from our study that there was some amount of general
information and knowledge with our HCWs. However, an educational campaign will
try to increase the level of awareness and clear any misconception or
misleading theories about HIV infection with our health care workers.