HIV-related knowledge, attitudes & risk perception amongst healthcare workers in

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HIV-related knowledge, attitudes & risk perception amongst nurses,

doctors & other healthcare workers in rural India

Kermode, Holmes*, Biangtung Langkham+, Mathew

Santhosh + & Sandy Gifford**

Australian International Health Institute, School of Population

Health, University of Melbourne,

*Burnet Institute & **Refugee Health Research Centre, LaTrobe

University, , Melbourne,

Australia & +Emmanuel Hospital Association, New Delhi, India

Received September 14, 2004

Indian J Med Res 122, September 2005, pp 258-264

Background & objective: People with HIV in India frequently

encounter discrimination while seeking and receiving healthcare

services. The knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers (HCWs)

influences the willingness and ability of people with HIV to access

care, and the quality of the care they receive.

Previous studies of HIV-related knowledge and attitudes amongst

Indian HCWs have been conducted primarily in large urban hospitals.

The objective of this study was to asses HIV-related knowledge,

attitudes and risk perception among a group of rural north Indian

HCWs, and to identify predictors of willingness to provide

care for patients with HIV infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 266 HCWs (78% female) from

seven rural north Indian health settings was undertaken in late

2002.

A self-administered written questionnaire was made available in

English and Hindi, and the response rate was 87 per cent.

Information was gathered regarding demographic details (age, sex,

duration of employment, job category); HIV-related knowledge and

attitudes; risk perception; and previous experience caring for HIV-

positive patients. Logistic regression modelling was undertaken to

identify factors associated with willingness to care for patients

with HIV.

Results: The HCWs in this study generally had a positive attitude to

caring for people with HIV. However, this was tempered by

substantial concerns about providing care, and the risk of

occupational infection with HIV was perceived by most HCWs to be

high. After controlling for confounding, HCWs willingness to provide

care for patients with HIV was strongly associated with having

previously cared for patients with HIV (P = 0.001).

Knowledge of HIV transmission and perception of risk were not

associated with willingness to provide care.

Interpretation & conclusion: The findings of this study showed a

general willingness of HCWs to provide care for patients with HIV,

tempered by concerns regarding provision of such care.

Strategies to address HCWs concerns are likely to ameliorate the

discrimination experienced by people with HIV when accessing

healthcare services. These include the development of

programmes to promote occupational safety of HCWs and involving

people with HIV in awareness training of HCWs.

Indian J Med Res 122, September 2005, pp 258-264

Key words Attitudes - health personnel - HIV - India - knowledge

KERMODE et al: HIV & HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN RURAL INDIA

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