Influence of knowledge, attitude, and demographic variables of healthcare workers in the prevention of HIV/AIDS: Case study in Abuja Nigeria

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is still ravaging the world and it is a disease of public health importance. Therefore, it is still worthwhile to focus on its preventive measures. Considering the central role of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the care of HIV/AIDS clients, it is imperative for them to have good knowledge, positive attitude and able to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Studies reported that healthcare workers stigmatize people with HIV/AIDs, thus, making the patients default from receiving care and increasing the spread of the disease. It is perceived that the knowledge, attitude, and the demographic variables of healthcare workers may be contributory to their stigmatization towards HIV/AIDs patients. There is a dearth of data in Abuja concerning the examination of these variables about HCWs and HIV/AIDS prevention. This study examined these variables and their influence on the preventive role of HCWs toward HIV/AIDs patients in Abuja in order to provide basis for further studies. Descriptive survey design was used for the study, census sampling was used to select all 210 HCWs that directly care for HIV/AIDS patients in the two area councils where HIV/AIDs patients receive care in Abuja. The HCWs returned 196 analyzable The need to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS questionnaires. Self-developed structured questionnaire was the instrument for data collection.  Data was analyzed using percentages, regression, and T- test at 0.05 significant level. Results revealed that HCWs had good knowledge about HIV/AIDs and control of the spread of HIV/AIDS (p <0.05); gender did not contribute significant difference to knowledge (p> 0.05); relatively good attitude to prevention and control of HIV/AIDs (p < 0.05), females displayed better attitude than males; other demographic variables tested had significant effect on the HCWs' prevention of HIV/AIDS. Healthcare workers in the country should be studied for comparison with the findings in this study.