Human immunodeficiency virus knowledge and attitudes among hospital-based healthcare professionals in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
OBJECTIVE
Since the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the Chinese mainland in 1985, the virus has spread to all provinces and autonomous regions. Although much research emphasis has been placed on studying behaviors and transmission knowledge among high-risk populations, especially drug abusers and commercial sex workers, little has been done to measure understanding within other risk groups. The objective of this study was to investigate HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) knowledge and attitudes among hospital-based healthcare professionals in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China.


METHODS
Data were gathered through a questionnaire completed by a convenience sample of individuals from three diverse hospitals.


RESULTS
Insufficient knowledge of the disease and its transmission resulted in more than 90% of the respondents expressing apprehension about contracting the virus and nearly 24% expressing reservations about caring for infected patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Uncorrected, such attitudes and knowledge deficiencies have the potential to impact negatively on the quality of care, patient-practitioner safety, and proper postexposure prophylaxis.
Anderson
Allen F
AF
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Kokomo, Kokomo, Indiana 36904, USA.
Zheng
Qingsi
Q
Wu
Guanglin
G
Li
Zhijun
Z
Liu
Wei
W
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002681:China; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires