title: HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among health care workers at Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt.
abstract: HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among health care professionals is one of the most important factors of this disease expansion. This study aimed to assess the stigmatized attitude among health care providers toward people living with HIV (PLHIV) at Tanta University Hospitals. The study is a cross-sectional survey. Data was gathered from randomly selected 310 health care workers at Tanta University Hospital using a structured questionnaire. Among studied participants, only 24.0 % had previous contact with HIV patients during work and 21.3 % felt worried to touch cloths of HIV patients, 26.4 % were worried to dress the wounds of HIV patients and 27.4 % were afraid to get blood sample from HIV patients. Those who were unwilling to care for HIV patients represented 40 % and only 36 % reported that if discriminating against HIV patients, they may get in trouble. Less than one half (42 %) reported having enough supply for reducing risk of nosocomial infection with HIV and 86 % reported having no guidelines to deal with HIV patients. Out of the participants, 78.7 % reported that HIV patients should be ashamed of themselves. Among the participants, 35, 48, and 43 % preferred not to provide medical services to injecting drug users, men having sex with men and sex workers suspected to have HIV infection, respectively. Infection control is defective in the supplies and procedures. There is absence of policy and protocols with regard to dealing with PLHIV. Health care providers showed high levels of stigma and discrimination against PLHIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ibrahim Ali
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Kabbash
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. ehababoali8@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ehab A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Abo Ali
authors.affiliation: Students in Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mostafa Mahmoud
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Elgendy
authors.affiliation: Students in Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mostafa Mohamed
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abdrabo
authors.affiliation: Students in Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Helal Mohamed
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.affiliation: Students in Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed Ramadan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gouda
authors.affiliation: Students in Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Yousef Saleh
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Elbasiony
authors.affiliation: Students in Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elboshy
authors.affiliation: Students in Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Discrimination; Egypt; HIV/AIDS; Health care workers; Stigma; Tanta