HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS: DECONSTRUCTING THE DISCRIMINATORY ATTITUDE OF YOUNG CAREGIVERS IN NIGERIA
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Date
2023-04-29
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Department of Behavioural Studies, Redeemer's University, Ede
Abstract
Regardless of the cross-cutting edge and landslide achievements recorded in clinical management
approaches of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the 21st century and the
correspondingly astounding chain of successes achieved in the production of drugs used effectively
in transmuting AIDS status from a severe and deadly health issue to a life-long but manageable
condition; people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are still stigmatised and heavily discriminated
against in many parts of the world. Based on the preceding, this study assessed the knowledge and
attitude of young healthcare professionals in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) toward
HIV/AIDS patients using a descriptive cross sectional survey research design and a multistage
sampling technique. A stratified sampling technique was adopted to select states across five
geopolitical zones. Local Governments Areas (LGAs) within the states were selected using simple
random sampling technique and the purposive sampling technique was employed for the selection
of 325 participants. The results of the study indicated that there is a significant association
between HIV/AIDS-related societal norms and region of origin X2
(2, N = 102) = 10.91, p = 0.004.
Also, there is a significant association between participants’ personal and religious beliefs X2
(2,
N = 287) = 6.40, p = 0.041. Participants who were above 25 years old (108.3 ±14.66), male
(112.97±13.47), had a high level of religiosity (105.68±13.98), and participants of Northern origin
(110.71±14.30) had higher mean scores on the HPASS compared to their counterparts. The study
concludes that associations between HIV/AIDS-related societal norms and region of origin,
personal and religious belief, and significantly impact on the attitude of healthcare professionals
towards persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Keywords: People Living with HIV/AIDS, Youth Heath care professionals, Knowledge,
Community level beliefs, Attitudes