Attitudes of Health Care Providers to Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of nurses and laboratory technologists towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) and the factors responsible for these attitudes. Information was elicited from 254 randomly selected nurses and laboratory technologists from 15 government owned health facilities in Lagos State with the use of a structured questionnaire. Results indicate that most of the respondents (96.3%) had moderate to good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Respondents' level of knowledge was influenced by the level of formal education attained, length of practice, gender and attendance at refresher courses on HIV/AIDS (p < 0.05). In contrast, respondents' age, occupation and religion did not significantly influence their level of knowledge (p > 0.05). Attitude towards PLWA was poor. Some (55.9%) of the health workers felt that PLWAs are responsible for their illness, while 35.4% felt that they deserve the punishment for their sexual misbehaviours. Only 52.8% of the respondents expressed willingness to work in the same office with a PLWA, while only 18.0% would accept to visit or encourage their children to visit a PLWA, probably because of the fear of contagion. It is, therefore, essential that health care providers be properly informed in order to improve their quality of care for PLWAs. (Afr J Reprod Health 2003; 7[1]: 103-112) RÉSUMÉAttitudes des dispensateurs des soins médicaux envers les sidéens dans l'etat de Lagos. Cette étude a été menée pour examiner la connaissance, les croyances et les attitudes des infirmières et des techniciens de laboratoires envers les sidéens et les facteurs qui en sont responsables. L'information a été recueillie, à l'aide d'un questionnaire structuré, auprès de 254 infermières et techniciens de laboratoire selectionnés au hasard dans 15 hôpitaux gouvernementaux dans l'Etat de Lagos. Les résultats ont montré que la plupart des interrogés (96,3%) ont une bonne connaissance du VIH/SIDA. Le niveau de connaissance chez les interrogés a été influencé par le niveau de l'éducation formelle atteint, la durée de la pratique, les sexes et la fréquentation aux stages de recyclage sur le VIH/SIDA (p < 0,05). Par contre, l'âge, le métier et la religion des interrogés n'ont pas influencé, leur connaissance de manière significative, (p < 0,05). L'attitude envers les sidéeens était mauvaise. Certaines (55,9%) parmi les infirmières estimaient que les sidéens étaient responsables de leur maladie alors que 35,4% estimaient qu'ils méritaient la punition pour leurs mauvaises conduites sexuelles. Seuls 52,8% des interrogés ont exprimé la volonté de travailler dans le même bureau que les sidéens alors que 18.0% aimeraient visiter ou encourager leurs enfants de visiter les sidéens probablement de peur d'être infectés. Il est donc bien nécessaire que les dispensateurs des soins médicaux soient bien informés afin d'améliorer leur qualité de soins pour les sidéens. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2003; 7[1]: 103-112)

Patient and Provider Perspectives on HIV and HIV-Related Stigma in Dutch Health Care Settings

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Nurses’ knowledge and attitude to the care of HIV/AIDS patients in South East, Nigeria

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