Fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV, willingness to care, and discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patients among nurses

Background and ObjectivesExposure to infectious blood and body fluids increase risk of occupationally acquired HIV among nurses. Discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patient is one of the challenging ethical issues in nursing. The aim of this study was to determine fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV، willingness to care، and discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patients among nurses. Materials and MethodsIn this descriptive – cross sectional study، 165 nurses of internal and infectious wards from four selected hospitals of Tehran and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences participated. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires. The instruments used included «demographic data form»، «risk perception scale»، «willingness to care for people living with HIV/AIDS» questionnaire، and «discrimination against AIDS» questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 14، t-test، and pearson correlation. ResultsOut of 165 nurses، 36. 4% had sever fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV، 81. 8% were evaluated to be neutral in willingness to care of AIDS patients، and 54. 5% agreed with moderately discrimination practice against AIDS patients. There was a significant correlation between fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV with discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patients (p=0. 003) and willingness to care (p= 0. 007). ConclusionsIt seems that education efforts about universal precautions، ethical issues، and patient rights should be made in order to reduce fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV، decrease discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patients and increase willingness to care.