Knowledge about HIV Infection and

Attitude towards People Living with

HIV/AIDS among the Nurses Working

in BPKIHS

Mehta RS, Karki P, Rijal SB. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences

Everybody is at risk of getting HIV.

Introduction

However certain Persons have high

risk.

Some Facts about HIV/AIDS

• 4th biggest killer world wide• More than 95 % cases in low & middle

income countries• Symptom free period up to 10 years or • Symptom free period up to 10 years or

More

• HIV transmission is 10 times more on STIs• ART Cost: very expensive

• About 1/3 are aged 15-24 years• Most people do not know they are infected• Gravity of Different mode of Transmission:

* Sexual intercourse = 80-90 %* Blood Transfusion = 3-15 %* Injecting Drug users = 5 -10 %* Equipments/Needles = < 0.1 %* Perinatal = 0.1%

HIV positive to AIDS– 33 % = Only develop AIDS– 64 % = Till death live without

SymptomsSymptoms– 5-10- 20 yrs = A symptomatic

Concentrated epidemic:Sex workers (4%), Migrant Population (4-10%) &

IVDUs(51%)

No of Reported Cases ( HIV Infection)

1st case in Nepal --July 1988Since then increasing1988 - 41992 - 771992 - 771996 - 1352000 - 7002004 - 44422007 - 10546 Dec.15th

Objectives:The main objective of this study was to find out the knowledge about HIV infection and explore about HIV infection and explore the attitude of nurses towards the PLWHA working in BPKIHS.

Research Design and Methodology:

• Descriptive cross-sectional study• Conducted among the nurses (Staff

Nurses & ANMs) • Using stratified random sampling

method the wards were selected• Using population proportionate

method the nurses were selected

• Total 60 nurses were involved in the study out of 240 nurses

• The nurses working in Psychiatric and Maternity units were excluded from the study.

• The data was collected during the first • The data was collected during the first week of October 2007.

• The collected data was entered in SPSS software package and analyzed.

Results: Demographic profile of the subjects:

• Out of 60 nurses 60 % were below 25 years and only 8.3% were of age group of 30-35 were of age group of 30-35 Years.

• The mean age was 24.8 years with SD 3.88 and range 20-35 years.

• Majority of them (91.7%) were Hindu, Staff Nurses (78.3%), Unmarried (63.3%), from villages (71.7%),cared the admitted AIDS patients in ward(68.3%), not taken HIV/AIDS ward(68.3%), not taken HIV/AIDS training previously (100%), and belongs to Sunsari(25%), Morang (15%) and Kathmandu (10%) districts.

Knowledge Profile of the subjects:subjects:

Table-I

Knowledge Profile of the Subjects about HIV/AIDS (n=60)

SN Knowledge Profile about HIV/AIDS Percentage Score

1 What is AIDS?

a. Life threatening disease 61.7

b. Preventable disease 11.7

c. Contagious disease 16.7c. Contagious disease 16.7

d. I do not know 102 Causes of AIDS

a. Bacteria 13.3

b. HIV virus 86.7

c. Mosquito 0

d. I do not know 0

Table-I (continue)3 Risk of getting HIV/AIDS

A. High risk 70

b. May be 28.3

c. No risk 1.7c. No risk 1.7

4 Cared the Patients with AIDS

a. Yes ( Cared) 68.3

b. No ( Not Cared) 37.7

5 HIV infection is diagnosed by blood test 80

6 Knowledge about confirmation of by lab test

a. Yes 45

b. No 28.3

c. Do not know/Not sure 26.7

7 HIV virus is found in

a. Saliva and tears 8.3

b. Blood 83.7

c. Semen/Vaginal Secretion 76.78 T-Lymphocytes damaged by HIV virus 68.39 HIV/AIDS is a communicable disease

a. yes (communicable) 78.3b. No (non-communicable) 10

c. Do not know 11.7

Ways of Transmission of HIV/AIDS

a. shaking hands, hugging, kissing 30

b. Eating from same plate 13.3

c. If one is transfused with HIV positive blood. 90d. Making tattoos on the body 58.3

e. Children born to HIV infected mothers 75

f. By the bite of mosquito 25

g. Using common syringes 78.3

h. Sharing utensils and clothes 21.7

11 Symptoms of HIV/AIDS

a. Anorexia/Wt. Loss 90

b. Fatigue/Weakness 70

c. Pain 6.7

d. Shortness of Breath 26.7

e. Nausea/Vomiting 20

f. Cough 26.7

g. Anxiety/Depression 55g. Anxiety/Depression 55

h. Skin Breakdown 15

i. Diarrhoea 80

j. Confusion/Dementia 8.3

k. Constipation 20

l. Fever 25

12 HIV virus survive in body fluids inside living hu man body 63.3

13 HIV/AIDS is a curable disease 8.3

Table- II

Knowledge about prevention and treatment of HIV/AID S (n=60)

SN Knowledge Profile (+ Responses)Percentage

Score(%)

1 Applying the principles of Universal Precautions 98.3

2 Use and administer blood and blood products only after 86.72 Use and administer blood and blood products only after screening

86.7

3 Not touching the infected person 18.3

4 Not sharing the needles, razors and blades 90

5 Not to conceive if one has HIV/AIDS 75

6 Practice safe sex 91.7

7 Be faithful to the partners 80

8 Heared about the term highly active anti-retroviral therapy ( HAART) ( yes)

36.7

9 AIDS patients are more prone to develop opportunistic illness ( yes)

60

10 Vaccine is available against HIV (yes) 25

11 Knowledge about post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) 4511 Knowledge about post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) 45

12 Bleaching/Chlorine is used to clean blood spillage on surface ( Yes)

80

13 Linen of AIDS patients should be send to laundry only after disinfection on in chlorine/bleaching (yes)

73.3

14 Using condom during sex 98.3

15 Having no sexual relationship with multiple partners 91.7

16 Having sex with single faithful husband and wife 95

17 Avoiding homosexual activities 86.7

18 Not having sex with commercial sex workers 83.3

19 Receiving safe blood transfusion 10019 Receiving safe blood transfusion 100

20 Using of disposable or sterilized syringe only 96.7

21 Avoid to use common syringe by intravenous drug abuser 96.7

Table- IIIExtent of knowledge about HIV/AIDS Related

services available at BPKIHS (n=60)

SN Knowledge Profile Percentage Score

1 VCT services

a. Adequate 8.3b. Inadequate 15

c. Not at all 76.7c. Not at all 76.7

2 PMTCT services

a. Adequate 13.3b. Inadequate 13.3

c. Not at all 73.43 ART services

a. Adequate 8.3b. Inadequate 10

c. Not at all 81.7

4 STIs/IDCs/OIs clinics

a. Adequate 11.7

b. Inadequate 16.7

c. Not at all 71.7

5 CD -4 count test

a. Adequate 13.3

b. Inadequate 11.7

c. Not at all 75

6 HIV test

a. Adequate 53.3

b. Inadequate 25

c. Not at all 21.7

7 ART Drug availability

a. Adequate 21.7

b. Inadequate 23.3

c. Not at all 55

8 PEP services

a. Adequate 15

b. Inadequate 26.7b. Inadequate 26.7

c. Not at all 58.3

9 Infection control protocol of BPKIHS

a. Adequate 36.7

b. Inadequate 28.3

c. Not at all 35

Table – IVAttitude among the nurses towards People Living wit h

AIDS (P=positive & N=negative) (n=60)

SN

Attitude

StronglyA

gree(%

)

Agree(%

)

Uncertain

(%)

Disagree

(%)

Strongly

Disagree

(%)

1 AIDS is caused by curse of God. (N) 3.3 5 1.7 11.7 783.

2 Person affected should not be allowed to stay in community. (N) 5 5 3.3 21.7 65

3 All the young people / students should know about HIV/AIDS infection. (P) 60 28.3 1.7 3.3 6.7

4 It is alright for women and men to have premarital sexual relation. (N) 5 15 16.7 33.3 30

5 If one of my friends gets AIDS I shall continue my normal social relationship with here or her. (P)

43.3 48.3 17 1.7 5

6 Health education is necessary for woman and men to have safe sex. (P) 58.3 25 5 1.7 10

7 AIDS is real treat of human population. 7 AIDS is real treat of human population. (N) 6.7 26.7 18.3 16.7 31.7

8 Knowing there is no cure for AIDS this is no point in caring for AIDS patients. (N) 6.7 11.7 10 36.7 35

9 It is not good for married men and woman to have extra marital sexual relationship. (P)

45 20 3.3 15 16.7

10 AIDS awareness is one of the important advices of parents for their children. (P) 55 33.3 3.3 1.7 6.7

11 AIDS patient need live, support and affection. (P)

66.7 30 0 0 3.3

12 Suggest AIDS suspected friends for testing his or her blood. (P)

61.7 30 3.3 0 5

13 Peer group discussion about HIV/AIDS is more effective for its prevention. (P) 53.3 41.7 1.7 0 3.3

14 Open discussion about HIV/AIDS prevention can be done among siblings. (P)

47.6 45 1.7 0 6.7

15 Major responsibility of adolescents is to 15 Major responsibility of adolescents is to participate in HIV/AIDS prevention programme to being community awareness to control HIV/AIDS. (P)

56.7 35 1.7 0 6.7

16 If one of my family members gets AIDS I will be ready to care him / her. (P)

63.3 31.7 0 0 5

17 A person of any age, race, sex or occupation can contract HIV/AIDS. (P) 40 41.7 1.7 8.3 8.3

18 We should not tell others if one has HIV/AIDS. (N)

10 16.7 6.7 43.3 23.3

19 Individuals with HIV/AIDS infection must be treated with love and belonging. (P) 48.3 38.3 5 1.7 6.7

20 Individuals with HIV/AIDS infection must be assessed for any potential infection (P)

35 48.3 8.3 1.7 6.7

21 HIV/AIDS patient should be treated properly. (P) 41.7 41.7 5 5 6.7

22 I feel that, counseling plays an 22 I feel that, counseling plays an important role for an HIV/AIDS infected clients. (P) 55 31.7 0 53 8.3

23 I am willing to assist with the delivery of a baby born to a mother with HIV/AIDS. (P)

33.3 48.3 6.7 5 6.7

24 I am willing to assist an operation on a patient with HIV/AIDS. (P) 35 51.7 5 3.3 5

Conclusion:

• On the basis of findings, we can conclude that there is not adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its pathogenesis.

• Only few nurses were aware about the HIV/AIDS services available at BPKIHS HIV/AIDS services available at BPKIHS like: VCT, PMTCT, ART, HIV testing, CD-4 count, Counseling and other services.

• Regarding the transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS they have not sufficient knowledge.

• There is negative attitude among few nurses regarding HIV/AIDS may be due to inadequate knowledge related to HIV/AIDS.

• Hence, continuous in-service education on HIV/AIDS management and care for nurses working in BPKIHS is very urgency.

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THANK-YOUThe Theme.“Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”

2007“Take leadership ”

2008