Author(s)

Fahad A. Al-Owais^1*, Mohammed S. Al-Abdullah², Adel F. Al-Othman²

¹College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
²Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Worldwide data shows that the stigma and discrimination for AIDS patients by health care providers have a negative impact on its epidemic. It discourages people from seeking care or being tested for HIV, thus reducing access to HIV/AIDS prevention. The study aims to evaluate the knowledge of the HCWs (health care workers) in King Abdulaziz Medical City about human immunodeficiency virus infection and their attitudes when they encounter HIV/AIDS patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was designed to collect data using self-administered structured questionnaire from 90 health care workers. It was distributed among HCWs in different wards in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh in August 2014. Results: The study included a total number of 90 heath care workers, of which 31 were physicians and 59 were nurses. Around 81 (90%) of HCWs knew the causative agent for AIDS. Only 22 (24%) of HCWs knew the level of risk of HIV transmission following needle stick injury. Most of HCWs 66 (73%) knew that sexual practice was the most common mode of transmission. Around 27 (87%) of physicians and 33 (56%) of nurses were able to answer that antiretroviral therapy had the ability to control HIV-infection. In addition, 9 (10%) of HCWs believed that AIDS was curable. Conclusion: It was obvious from our study that there was some amount of general information and knowledge with our HCWs. However, an educational campaign will try to increase the level of awareness and clear any misconception or misleading theories about HIV infection with our health care workers.

AIDS, Stigma, Knowledge, Health Care Workers

Al-Owais, F. , Al-Abdullah, M. and Al-Othman, A. (2015) Knowledge and Attitude of Health Care Workers toward Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in King Abdulaziz Medical City. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 5, 87-93. doi: 10.4236/aid.2015.52010.