A Study of HIV Knowledge and Stigma Among Health Care Workers from Istanbul-Turkey
Journal Title: Hamidiye Medical Journal - Year 2021, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global public health problem affecting over 38 million people. While the yearly number of new cases is reducing in the world, this number is increasing in our country. Among the health care workers (HCW), stigma is an important obstacle. We aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes related to HIV/AIDS among HCW. Materials and Methods: The study included HCW actively working at University of Health Sciences Turkey Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital for one year or longer, who visited the hospitals exclusive health clinic for hospital personnel for any reason from July to October 2019 and agreed to participate in the study. Participants took an information form prepared by researchers in face-to-face interviews. The statistical program SPSS was used to analyze data. Results: A total of 332 participants with the mean age of 28.5 years (min 21, max 60) were included. 52.4% (n=174) successfully identified the transmission routes and the most known route was “transmission by sexual routes” and the most mistaken route was “body fluids”. 17.8% responded with “I agree” to the “all HIV (+) individuals should be quarantined” statement, 20.2% agreed that “I wouldn’t let my child meet with the child of an HIV (+) parent”. 9.6% agreed with “HIV (+) individuals should carry an externally visible sign” and 5.4% agreed “HIV is only seen in homosexuals”. Nurses and personnel had high agreement rates with the quarantine and labeling judgments. Personnel most frequently agreed with “HIV is only seen in homosexuals”. When education status and Likert-type questions about stigma were compared, there were significant differences identified for all 4 questions (p=0.000). Conclusion: Inadequate information and prejudices of HCW may lead to serious results in terms of stigma for HIV (+) individuals. Providing information about problems encountered by these people and revealing the outcomes of stigma may ensure HCW to develop empathy and break the negative feedback cycle of stigma.
Authors and Affiliations
Osman Sağsöz, Sevgi Duman, Güzin Zeren Öztürk, Seçil Arıca
Keywords
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- EP ID EP693719
- DOI 10.4274/hamidiyemedj.galenos.2021.46320
- Views 162
- Downloads 0
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