Pardo-Moreno MH, Chinome JL; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 120 (abstract no. 13174).

Centro De Rehabilitacion Integral Tunja, Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the knowledges, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to HIV/AIDS of health-care workers, who works in the Regional Hospitals (Rural towns) in Boyaca, Colombia. DESIGN: Descriptive study, population survey. METHODS: A confidential KAP survey was carried out to health-care workers (50 men, 159 women) from from 10 regional hospitals in the Department of Boyaca. Subjects were assigned to 4 occupational groups: A (Nursery Aids), B (Social Work, Psychology, Nutrition, Physical and Respiratory Therapy), C (Nursery, Dentistry, Bacteriology), D (General and Especialized Medicine). RESULTS: A total of 209 surveys was revised, distributed according to the groups in the following way: A (57), B (42), C (62), D (48). Thirty nine percent of the subjects considered that to be HIV(+) was equal to have AIDS, and 45% considered that the HIV could be acquired through blood donation; 20% believed that treatment should include isolation. Group A had the highest percentage of wrong answers concerning HIV/AIDS. Although the majority of them have an estable relationship and they associate condom use with pregnancy avoidance, they recognize that surge of AIDS have had an important influence in their sexual life. Sixty percent considered that they have a probability of HIV infection (particularly groups A and C) due to their occupational activities, minimizing the risk due their sexual practices. Group D had the higher proportion of near experiences with HIV testing and with HIV infected people, they also had a better attitude toward those persons. CONCLUSION: The health-care workers in the regional hospitals of Boyaca, Colombia, haven't sufficient knowledges about HIV/AIDS and an adequate perception of the risk of infection due to their occupational and sexual activities. Educational campaigns about sexuality and HIV/AIDS could be useful and necessary.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Colombia
• Counseling
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Health Personnel
• Humans
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Sexual Behavior

Other ID:

• 98388148

UI: 102227561

From Meeting Abstracts