Nursing Performance Regarding Care of Children Suffering from Human Immunodeficiency Virus/AIDS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 B, Sc. Nursing Sciences 2004, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University-Cairo-Egypt.

2 Professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University-Cairo-Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/ acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS) is one of the serious public health problems with severe impact on various facets
of human life. Aim: Assessing knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses regarding care of children
suffering from HIV/AIDS. Design: A descriptive design was utilized. Setting: The study was
conducted at department number (1), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and dialysis unit in
Homyat Hospital in EL-Abassia affiliated to Ministry of Health and Population. Subject: A
convenience sample which included 100 nurses who are caring of children suffering from
HIV/AIDS, also included 68 children suffering from HIV Tools: two tools were used to collect data:
1) A pre designed questionnaire format to assess the characteristics of the study subjects, nurses
knowledge, reported nursing care, preventive measure to prevent spread HIV and their attitude. 2)
Nurses practices (observational checklists). Results: The majority of the studied nurses had a good
knowledge regarding care of children suffering from HIV/AIDS. While more than half of them had
a negative attitude. In addition all of them had incompetent practices regarding care of children with
AIDS. Conclusion: the majority of the studied nurses had a good knowledge. More than half of the
studied nurses had a negative attitude. Moreover, all of the studied nurses had incompetent practice
regarding care of children with AIDS. Recommendation: Provide educational programs about
attitude and practice of nurses regarding care of children suffering from HIV/AIDS.

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