Attitudes and Willingness of Nursing Students towards Caring for Patients Infected with HIV in South Africa

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess attitudes and willingness of caring for patients infected with HIV in South Africa among 122 nursing students using self-administered questionnaires. Majority of the nursing students possess positive attitudes towards patients infected with HIV and are more than willing to provide care to such patients but lacked knowledge regarding HIV policies. Nursing curricula should include extensive teaching about HIV legislation including internal and external work policies on HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: Attitude, willingness, patient infected with HIV, nursing students, South Africa

Ife PsychologIA, 20(2), September 2012