Health care provides knowledge concerning HIV infection /aids

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to assess knowledge of medical, nursing and paramedical personnel regarding HIV infection and AIDS at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore. The study population comprised 287 [54.25%] physicians, 184 [34.78%] nursing staff and 58 [10.96%] paramedics. About 73% participants were females and 96% had heard of AIDS or HIV. The media was the major source of their awareness. Major gaps in the knowledge of the participants about the exact nature of HIV infection and AIDS and the difference between these two were identified. Most of the respondents including the doctors did not know the signs and symptoms of HIV or AIDS and were not familiar with the specific diagnostic tests. Respondents were aware of the main modes of transmission of the disease but their knowledge as to how it could not be transmitted was lacking. This study revealed significant gaps in the knowledge of the medical and allied personnel about HIV infection and AIDS. The degree of awareness varied in direct proportion to the professional status of the participants: