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Knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers in paediatric HIV at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital
Reatile Mabe1, Michael A Pienaar1, Riana van Zyl1
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Insights
Healthcare workers caring for children with HIV show low knowledge but positive attitudes. Targeted training can improve paediatric HIV care and knowledge gaps, especially for nurses.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Paediatric HIV presents a significant global health challenge.
- Limited understanding exists regarding healthcare professionals' knowledge, perceptions, and practices concerning paediatric HIV.
- This study addresses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of healthcare workers (HCW) involved in the care of children with HIV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of healthcare workers (HCW) caring for children with HIV.
- To identify specific areas of knowledge gaps and assess attitudes and practices related to paediatric HIV management.
- To inform targeted interventions for improving HCW capacity in paediatric HIV care.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital.
- 94 healthcare workers (62 nurses, 32 doctors) participated.
- Anonymous, self-administered KAP questionnaires were used to collect data on paediatric HIV.
Main Results:
- Less than half (44.7%) of HCWs possessed adequate paediatric HIV knowledge.
- Medical doctors demonstrated significantly higher knowledge (87.5%) compared to nurses (22.6%).
- Favourable attitudes were observed among the majority of HCWs, with specific practice variations noted (e.g., glove use, sharps disposal).
Conclusions:
- Despite knowledge deficits, particularly among nurses, positive attitudes indicate a willingness for further learning.
- Interactive training sessions, aligned with established guidelines, can empower HCWs and enhance paediatric HIV care.
- Addressing knowledge gaps through education is crucial for improving outcomes for children with HIV.
Background:
Paediatric HIV remains a major public health challenge. Little is known about the HIV knowledge, perceptions, and behaviours of healthcare professionals caring for these children.
Objectives:
To assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of healthcare workers (HCW) caring for children with HIV in a tertiary hospital setting.
Method:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital between July 2022 and September 2022. Healthcare workers, selected through purposive sampling, completed an anonymous self-administered KAP questionnaire on paediatric HIV.
Results:
There were 94 participants in this study; 62 were nurses and 32 were medical doctors. Less than half of the HCWs (44.7%) had adequate knowledge. Doctors (87.5%) were more knowledgeable than nurses (22.6%). Areas in which there was a significant difference in knowledge (P < 0.05) were in breastfeeding, vertical transmission prevention, management of HIV and tuberculosis co-infection, the use of the polymerase chain reaction test, and first-line treatment regimens. The attitudes of the majority of HCWs were favourable and optimistic. Regarding practices, more nurses (60.7%) wore gloves than doctors (37.5%). The majority of HCWs (85.7%) disposed of sharps appropriately.
Conclusion:
Despite the low levels of knowledge among study participants, particularly among the nursing group, favourable attitudes suggested that HCWs were willing to increase their levels of knowledge. Healthcare workers can be empowered in a supportive workplace by being offered interactive training sessions based on established guidelines.
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