Evaluation of HIV knowledge and attitudes towards patients living with HIV AIDS among healthcare professionals in a hospital in Somalia

Year 2026, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 64 - 70, 20.02.2026

Ali Kutta Çelik , Ahmed Mohamed Ali , Liban Adde Hussein , Mücahit Türkan , Suad Abdikarim İsse , Tigad Ali , Fartun Mohamed Hilowle

https://izlik.org/JA78YY87NA

Abstract

Aims: Although HIV/AIDS was first identified in 1981, negative prejudices toward individuals living with this disease remain widespread. These stigmas create significant barriers, causing patients to conceal their condition, which in turn disrupts efforts for effective disease control, management, and treatment.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 301 participants, including physicians, nurses, midwives, health technicians, and laboratory staff working in our hospital, using an anonymous survey method. The study consisted of three sections and a total of 57 questions, focusing on participants' demographic information, knowledge about HIV, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients. The survey was conducted by specialist physicians and general practitioners working in the infectious diseases clinic, as well as by Infection Control Committee nurses. During this process, both outpatient clinics and inpatient wards were visited, and the survey was completed through face-to-face interviews. The survey was carried out over a period of approximately two months.
Results: The knowledge level of healthcare workers (HCWs) who participated in the survey was significantly higher than their positive biases (p<0.01). Physicians (p=0.002) and those with postgraduate education (p=0.026) had significantly higher levels of HIV knowledge compared to others. As HIV knowledge increased, negative prejudices decreased significantly (p<0.001). No significant relationship was found between gender, age, marital status, work area, years of experience, and knowledge or attitude. Notably, HCWs had insufficient knowledge, particularly regarding the modes of HIV transmission.
Conclusion: Given the positive correlation between HCWs' high knowledge levels and their positive attitudes toward patients, we believe that profession- and experience-based educational interventions and training programs are essential to increase HIV awareness and reduce misconceptions.

Keywords

Attitude , knowledge , HIV , Somalia , survey

Ethical Statement

the Clinical Research Ethics Committee Unit of the Mogadishu-Somalia-Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital (Approval No:18529 )

Supporting Institution

None

Thanks

none

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