title: Learning about Barriers to Care for People Living with HIV in Egypt: A Qualitative Exploratory Study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify obstacles health care workers face in providing care for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Based on these findings, health authorities can design interventions to support health care workers in providing better medical care for PLWHA. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with physicians and nurses in one 300-bed tertiary care public hospital in Giza, Egypt. Thematic analysis was conducted by 2 investigators. Five main themes were identified (1) fear of infection; (2) disbelief in effectiveness of infection control measures to protect against HIV; (3) misconceptions regarding medical care for PLWHA; (4) fear of secondary stigma; and (5) moral judgments toward PLWHA and negative connotations related to HIV. Interventions targeting health care workers should be multidimensional, including knowledge and skills building as well as value and attitude change. Reducing stigma among health care workers will improve access to care for PLWHA.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ihab
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.affiliation: Global Disease Detection and Response Program, US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo, Egypt anna.leena.lohiniva@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna Leena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lohiniva
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kandeel
authors.affiliation: Global Disease Detection and Response Program, US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Manal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benkirane
authors.affiliation: Ouem El Masreyn General Hospital, Ministry of Health in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hossam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atta
authors.affiliation: Ouem El Masreyn General Hospital, Ministry of Health in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nasr
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Sayed
authors.affiliation: Global Disease Detection and Response Program, US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talaat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004534:Egypt; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057545:Social Stigma
keywords: Egypt; HIV; clinical care; stigma