HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma and Prevalent Attitude among Healthcare Trainees in Delhi

Abstract

Background: Despite growing awareness of HIV /AIDS the exact level of knowledge regarding the associated stigma among healthcare trainees needs to be ascertained. Their knowledge reflects the quality of care delivered by them in the future. Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of stigma associated with HIV/AIDS among trainee healthcare students in Delhi. Settings and Design: cross-sectional survey design. Methods and Material: A total of two hundred healthcare students were contacted for the survey. The HIV stigma scale with 18 items was administered one-one /mail after receiving the informed consent. Finally, data were collected from one hundred and twenty-seven subjects after excluding the dropouts. Related statistical analysis was performed to examine the data. Statistical analysis used: Descriptive statistics were used for the variables. Results: Scores on the three domains reflected that the maximum number of subjects had awareness of the negative attitude and equity issues related to HIV/AIDS. Also, there seemed to be less recognition of the perceived discrimination prevalent within the community. Conclusions:  This study reports on HIV/AIDS-related discriminatory attitudes and stigma encountered by persons living with HIV/AIDS. Such attitudes contribute to missed opportunities for prevention, education and treatment, undermining efforts to manage and prevent HIV. Thus, knowledge of healthcare trainees about HIV/AIDS-related stigma that can hinder efforts to manage and prevent HIV needs to be addressed.

Keywords: Stigma and Attitude, HIV/AIDS, Health Care students, Awareness