Knowledge on HIV/AIDS among Healthcare Professionals in Surat City

Abstract

Background: Objective: To assess the knowledge about HIV/AIDS among health care professionals.

Material and Method: Design: Cross-sectional. Setting and Participants: Total 90 respondents including Doctors, Nurses, Aya and Sweepers from Medical teaching hospital (public), Urban Health Centres, Private hospitals and Trust hospitals of Surat city. Sampling Method: Quota Sampling.

Result and Discussion: Overall, 67.4% respondents were able to differentiate correctly between HIV and AIDS. Ninety percent respondents have mentioned sexual contact, blood transfusion and percutaneous route as modes of transmission for HIV. Significant number of doctors believed that transmission is possible by coughing (21.7%) and sharing glass (13.3%) with no major difference among public and private setup doctors. Majority of doctors have replied ‘safe sex’ (91.7%), ‘use of sterilized material’ (66.7%) and ‘safe blood’ (63.3%) as principal modes for prevention of HIV/AIDS. Every third respondent among all stakeholders replied ‘avoidance of high risk behaviour’ as a way of prevention for transmission of HIV/AIDS. Ninety percent doctors have received the knowledge about HIV/AIDS ‘during their study period’. Fifty percent nurses and 66.7% aya/sweepers have got the knowledge about HIV/AIDS during day-to-day practice. In contrast to 10% for doctors, 61.1% nurses and half of the aya/sweepers have got the knowledge on HIV/AIDS through training.