Health nurses: attitudes towards treating AIDS patients

Many nurses working in hospitals, especially in the wards, as well as nurses in community clinics have been involved in treating AIDS sufferers. In spite of clear and widespread information available to professionals, strong apprehensions still exist as to the contagious nature of the disease. A survey was carried out in order to assess the attitudes of nurses in this regard. Participants were drawn from the nursing profession, all were Registered Nurses (R.N.) The survey was carried out in the centre of the country and involved 137 participants, 69 of whom were hospital nurses and 68 community health nurses. Their average age was 43 years with an average professional experience of 10 years. A questionnaire was issued containing 24 closed questions, based on professional knowledge, clinical experience, professional literature, and attitudes towards treatment, as well as obligations involving information to family members and other institutions and commitment to HIV patients.