Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus infection by workers at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the knowledge of workers at National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu of Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection in
terms of its transmission, symptoms and prevention
Methods: A cross sectional study of three hundred and eighty workers was studied using pretested questionnaires in 2008
Result: Majority of the workers (85.3%) knew that HIV infection was caused by germs. The epidemic nature of the infection in our country was
only acknowledged by 43.9% of the workers. The asymptomatic nature of HIV infection was only acknowledged by 7.4% of the workers.
Majority of the workers (76.3%) had good knowledge of its symptoms .Majority of the workers had good knowledge of it transmission and
preventive measures (81% and 70% respectively). Twenty percent did not know of maternal to fetal transmission and forty percent were not
aware of medical treatment
Conclusion: Knowledge of HIV symptoms, transmission, preventive measures were good in majority of the workers. Lack of knowledge of the
epidemic nature of HIV infection, the fact that HIV infection could be asymptomatic, and the lack of knowledge of medical treatment calls for
more education in these aspects.