Knowledge of Ocular Complications of HIV/AIDS among Hospital Workers in a Tertiary Institution

Abstract

Since the commencement of the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, there has been increase longevity among people living with HIV/AIDS , a factor which was thought initially to be related to the low prevalence of its ocular complication in Sub-Saharan Africa. In fact some of its ocular signs have been identified as stigmata of HIV. It is therefore important that all health workers and not only eye care workers know about these eye complications. However there seems to be no study on the knowledge of health workers about ocular complications of HIV/AIDS. This study aimed at determining the knowledge of hospital workers in a tertiary institution in Western Nigeria about Ocular Complications of HIV/AIDS. The hospital workers excluding the eye care workers, administrative staff and security staff of Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital completed a structured self administered questionnaire. The interview covered demographics, cadre in health work, awareness of HIV/AIDS and its transmission, knowledge of its Ocular complications. Their responses were analysed using SPSS statistical package, version 11.0. 72.2% knew that HIV/AIDS could affect the eye which is related to the status of health work (P= 0.00) .About 50% of hospital workers do not know the part of the eye that HIV/AIDS could affect and another 52.5% says it affect the eye only at the late stage. Knowledge about different eye complications was generally low. Only 28.6% knew that it could present first as an eye problem. The knowledge of hospital workers about eye involvement in HIV/AIDS is low there is need to create awareness through regular workshops and seminars, which will in turn help to reduce ocular morbidity and mortality among the people living with HIV/AIDS.

Key words: Ocular, HIV/AIDS, Hospital Workers