Knowledge about HIV/AIDS, Among Health Workers in Three Provinces in Northern Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study

Tóm tắt

An effective response to HIV requires a strong and sustainable health system with a well-trained workforce. This study aims to explore the knowledge about HIV/AIDS among health workers in three provinces in Northern Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 610 health workers. Face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaire on knowledge about HIV/AIDS and self-administered questionnaires on drug use, stigma and discrimination, were conducted. Data were entered using ACCESS, and transferred into STATA 10.0 for analysis. The health workers showed strengths in some domains of knowledge but were weak in others. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS epidemiology, prevention and treatment appeared to be sufficient. In contrast though, only 8% of participants have correct knowledge on positive confirmatory tests, role of voluntary counselling and testing (mean=1.48, range=0-2). Another area of deficiency was knowledge about palliative care and nutrition for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Knowledge levels were low in regards to identifying pain level (12 %), starting time for palliative care (8%), and types of palliative care (mean=0.84, range=0-2). In regards to nutrition, though participants know about food groups needed for the patients (mean=2.23, range=1-3), but only 20% understand that increased nutrition is necessary. The participants demonstrated a comparatively good understanding of negative effects of stigma and discrimination on PLHIV (mean=3.16, range=3-4), their families (mean=2.90, range=2-4), and community (mean=2.32, range=2-3). Despite this, knowledge about concepts of stigma (19 %) and discrimination (13%) remained modest. The multivariable linear regression analysis shows that health workers, who do not support the isolation and separation of PLHIV, and who have positive attitude to PLHIV, have better knowledge about stigma and discrimination. This study demonstrates that besides basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS, priorities should be given to training for health workers on stigma and discrimination reduction as well as on palliative care and nutrition for PLHIV.