Nurses working at BPKIHS in Nepal were surveyed to assess their knowledge of HIV infection and attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. The majority of nurses were young, Hindu staff nurses. Most nurses had good knowledge about transmission and universal precautions, but less knowledge about diagnosis, treatment, and HIV services available at BPKIHS. While most nurses had positive attitudes towards caring for PLWHA, some negative attitudes were observed. Continuous education on HIV management and care is needed for nurses to address gaps in knowledge and improve attitudes.

1. Abstract: Oral
Knowledge about HIV Infection and Attitude towards People Living with HIV/AIDS
among the Nurses Working in BPKIHS
Mehta RS*1, Karki P*2, Rijal S*3
B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal
Background: In world More than 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, 2.3 million are
under 15 yrs , 14000 new infections each day , 1.7 million human infected with HIV/AIDS, 3.1
million deaths from AIDS , Million new HIV cases per day.
Objective: The main objective of this study was to find out the knowledge about HIV infection
and explore the attitude of nurses towards the PLWHA working in BPKIHS.
Methods and Materials: It was descriptive cross sectional study conducted among the nurses
working in medical-surgical and pediatric nursing department of BPKIHS. Using stratified
random sampling technique units 60 nurses were selected out of 240 nurses to collect the data
using pre-tested questionnaire in the first week of October 2007.
Results: It was found that 60% nurses were between age group of 20-25 years, Hindu (91.7%),
and staff nurses (78.3%). Nurses had more knowledge on causes (86.7%), transmission,
symptoms, applying universal precaution (98.3%), where as less knowledge on confirmation of
diagnosis(45%), ART (36.7%), PEP (45 %), and HIV/AIDS related services available at
BPKIHS i.e. VCT (8.3%), PMTCT (13.3%), ART (8.3%), HIV test (53.3%) and PEP (15%).
Most of the nurses had positive attitude regarding care of PLWHA.
Conclusions: Based on findings it can conclude that there is inadequate knowledge about
HIV/AIDS pathogenesis, services available at BPKIHS, transmission and prevention of
HIV/AIDS along with some negative attitude. Hence, continuous in-service education on
HIV/AIDS management and care for nurses is very essential and urgency.
Note:
*1 Ram Sharan Mehta, Associate Professor, Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, College of
Nursing, Email: ramsharanmehta@hotmail.com.com, *2 Prof. Dr. Prahlad Karki, HoD,
Department of Internal Medicine, *3 Prof. Dr. Suman Rijal, Dept. of Internal Medicine.