Perinatal nurses' knowledge and attitudes about AIDS

Perinatal nurses were surveyed to determine their knowledge, attitudes, and fears concerning AIDS. Nurses' knowledge correlated positively with attendance at conferences and in-service programs. More than 85% of the respondents reported moderate to high fear of AIDS. No correlation was found between knowledge and self-reported fear scores. A discrepancy occurred between the nurses' beliefs that persons with AIDS deserve the same care as any other patient and the nurses' willingness to volunteer to care for these patients. Further research to test and evaluate coping strategies to help perinatal nurses care for mothers and newborns with AIDS must be conducted.