Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Health Care Professionals towards Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV/AIDS in a Nigeria Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

This descriptive cross sectional prospective study evaluated the attitude of health care workers toward voluntary counseling and testing of HIV/AIDS. A self -administered structured questionnaire was the tool used for the study, it contained sections on bio social variables and section aimed at fulfilling the objectives of the study; The participants were medical doctors, nurses, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, social workers and pharmacists. Data were collated, inputted into a computer and statistical analysis performed using SPSS version 22 software. Descriptive variables were summarized using percentages and proportions for categorical variables. Bivariate analysis was done to test for association between categorical variables using the chi square test; p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to identify predictive variables appropriate for the association between socio-demographic and willingness to go for screening. Two hundred and thirty- eight questionnaires were administered and statistically analyzed; the group consists of workers mostly females, (55%) aged 21-30 years, (47.8%), married, (52.5%) Christians, (96.2%) medical doctors, (49.2%) of Esan extraction; marital status and occupation of the participants significantly influenced their attitude towards voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AID. This study has shown that a good percentage of the respondents were knowledgeable, they have the right attitude towards VCT of HIV/AIDS while a lesser proportion had negative attitude, a substantial percentage were engaged in good practice.

Key words: Professionals; Counseling; Testing; HIV/AIDS