Knowledge and Attitudes of Healthcare Providers’ Towards Individuals Living with HIV

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 313 - 321, 25.08.2025

Özen İnam , Özlem Çiftçi

Abstract

This study aims to measure the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare providers such as nurses, midwives, paramedics, and health technicians (n:122) towards individuals living with HIV. This descriptive, quantitative study targeted allied healthcare providers in Istanbul, such as nurses, midwives, technicians, and paramedics, using the snowball sampling method. Based on the AIDS Knowledge Scale, participants scored between 9 and 21 points, with an average score of 17, indicating a high level of knowledge. A total of 76.2% of healthcare providers reported having received prior information about HIV/AIDS, with 50% (n=61) receiving this training at school. Despite the participants' good knowledge of HIV, it was observed that a small group (average 5.7%) expressed reluctance to provide care to patients with HIV. Furthermore, healthcare providers displayed avoidant attitudes in social interactions with individuals living with HIV, with an average of 44.8% showing hesitancy in their social relationships. These findings indicate that a high level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS is insufficient to overcome prejudices and societal norms. Comprehensive training programs are needed to address attitudes and behaviors in addition to knowledge. Moreover, healthcare providers should be encouraged to adopt more inclusive and supportive practices in both their professional and social interactions.

Keywords

Attitudes , Health Knowledge , HIV Infections , Medical Staffs.

Sağlık Çalışanlarının HIV ile Yaşayan Bireylere Yönelik Bilgi ve Tutumları

Abstract

HIV ile yaşayan bireylere yönelik bilgi ve tutumlarını ölçmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu tanımlayıcı nicel çalışma, İstanbul'daki hemşireler, ebeler, teknisyenler ve sağlık görevlileri de dahil olmak üzere sağlık hizmeti sunucularını (n:122) hedef almış ve kartopu yöntemiyle ulaşılmıştır. Veri toplama araçları arasında tanıtıcı bilgi formu, AIDS/HIV Bilgi Ölçeği ve HIV/AIDS Tutum ve Davranış Ölçüm Formu yer almaktadır. AIDS Bilgi ölçeğine göre katılımcıların 9-21 arasında puan aldıkları ve ortalama 17 puan aldıkları görülmüştür. Sağlık çalışanlarının bilgi düzeyi puanları yüksek düzeydedir. Sağlık çalışanlarının %76,2'sinin daha önce HIV/AIDS hakkında bilgi aldığı ve katılımcıların %50'sinin (n:61) bu eğitimi okulda aldığı belirtilmiştir. Çalışmaya katılan sağlık hizmeti sunucularının HIV bilgi durumu iyi olmakla birlikte, ortalaması düşük bir grubun (ortalama %5.7) HIV'li hastalara bakım verme konusunda isteksiz olduğu gözlenmiştir. Ayrıca sağlık hizmeti sunucularının sosyal ilişkilerinde HIV ile yaşayan bireylere yönelik tutumlarında büyük oranda (ortalama %44.8) kaçınmacı oldukları görülmüştür. Bu bulgular, HIV/AIDS hakkında yüksek bilgi düzeyine sahip olmanın, ön yargı ve toplumsal normlar karşısında yeterli olmadığını göstermektedir. Bu nedenle, sadece bilgi vermekle kalmayıp, tutumları ve davranışları değiştirmeyi hedefleyen kapsamlı eğitim programlarının geliştirilmesi gerekmektedir. Ayrıca, sağlık hizmetleri sunan kişilerin hem mesleki hem de sosyal yaşamlarında daha kapsayıcı ve destekleyici bir yaklaşım benimsemeleri teşvik edilmelidir.

Keywords

Tutumlar , Sağlık Bilgisi , HIV Enfeksiyonları , Sağlık Çalışanları.

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