[Health care worker relationship with HIV infected patients or AIDS patients]

The roll of the health care worker (HCW) providing care to HIV-infected patients or living with AIDS has became an important issue in the course of the epidemic, and has impacted the evolution of these patients. Diverse studies have shown that the acceptance of the HCW to care for these patients is related to the degree of education in regards to the subject. There is a positive correlation between knowledge about universal precautions and mechanisms of transmission with the willingness to care for HIV-infected patients. This review shows several studies that have been developed in order to assess the attitudes among HCW's toward HIV-infected patients and the phenomen HIV/AIDS as public health problem. In addition, political issues are discussed in regards to measure protection to HCW as well as HIV-infected patients.