Table of Contents
Title Page i
Approval Page ii
Dedication iii
Certification iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 1
Background of the Study 1
Statement of Problem 5
Purpose of the Study 6
Research Questions 6
Hypotheses 7
Significance of the Study 7
Scope of the Study 8
CHAPTER TWO: Review of Related Literature 9
Conceptual Framework 9
- concept of attitude and practice 10
- concept of health care and health care professionals 13
- concept of risk of occupational transmission 13
- concept of HIV and AIDS 15
- measurement of attitude and practice 19
- Socio-demographic factors influencing attitude and practice of
health care professional regarding HIV and AIDS 20
Theoretical Framework 20
Empirical Studies of Attitude and Practice of HIV and AIDS 22
Summary of Literature Review 27
CHAPTER THREE: Methods 29
Research Design 29
Population of Study 29
Sample and Sampling Technique 29
Instrument for Data Collection 29
Validity of the instrument 30
Reliability of the instrument. 30
Method of Data Collection 30
Method of Data Analysis 31
CHAPTER FOUR: Results and Discussion 32
Results 32
Summary of Findings 57
Discussion 59
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations 67
Summary 67
Conclusions 69
Recommendations 70
Suggestion for Further Studies 71
References 72
Appendices
- Letter of Introduction 78
- Questionnaire 79
- Focus Group Discussion Guide 82
- Letter of Invitation for focus group discussion 83
- Reliability of the Instrument 84
- Analysis 85
List of Tables
Tables Page
1. Attitude of HCPs Regarding Causative Agent of AIDS 32
2. Attitude of HCPs Regarding Mode of Transmission of HIV 33
3. Attitude of HCPs Regarding Preventive Measures of HIV and AIDS 34
4. Attitude of HCPs Regarding HIV and AIDS Treatment 35
5. Attitude of HCPs Towards People Living with HIV and AIDS 36
6. Difference in attitude of male and female HCPs regarding HIV and AIDS 37
7. Difference in Attitude of Different Categories of HCPs Regarding HIV and AIDS 41
8. Practice of HCPs Regarding Adherence to Universal Precaution 45
9. Difference in Practice of Male and Female HCPs Regarding
Adherence to Universal Precautions 46
10. Difference in Practice of Different Categories of HCPs Regarding
Adherence to Universal Precautions 48
11. Summary of t-tests Analysis of no Significant Difference in the
Attitude of Male and Female HCPs Regarding HIV and AIDS 50
12. Summary of One-way ANOVA Testing Null Hypothesis of
Significant Difference in the Attitude of Different Categories of HCPs, 52
13. Summary of Chi-Square (cal c2) Analysis of no Significant Difference
in the Practice of Adherence to Universal Precautions by Male and
Female HCPs Regarding HIV and AIDS 54
14. Summary of Chi-Square (cal c2) Testing Null Hypothesis of Significant Difference in the Practice of Adherence to
Universal Precautions by Different Categories of HCPs Regarding HIV
and AIDS 56
Abstract
The study was to determine the attitude and practice of Health Care Professionals (HCPs) regarding HIV and AIDS in Abia State Hospitals. To achieve the purpose of the study, ten objectives with corresponding research questions were posed and four hypotheses postulated. The survey research design was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a 42-item questionnaire (APRHAQ) and focus group discussion guide (FGDG). Five experts in Health and Physical Education, Nursing Sciences and Science Education validated the instrument. Cronbach Alpha was used for test of reliability. The population for the study consisted of 530 Health Care Professional in Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH); out of which the responses of 510 (98%) were used for the analysis of data. Percentages and mean scores were used to answer research questions, while t-test, ANOVA and Chi-square statistics were used for testing of the null hypotheses. The result of the study showed that the Health Care Professionals admitted that HIV is the causative agent of AIDS. The items 9 and 10 were accepted as the mode of transmission of HIV. In the preventive measures of HIV and AIDS, items 14 and 15 were accepted as method of prevention of HIV. The Health Care Professionals adopted the entire items regarding HIV and AIDS treatment except, item 19. In the attitude towards people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) Health Care Professionals accepted items 22, 26 and 29 as positive attitude towards PLWHA. Male and females adopted items 1, 9, 10, 14, 15, 18, 20 – 22, 26 and 29 (see table 6) regarding HIV and AIDS. The three categories demonstrated the same attitude (1,9, 10, 14, 15,18, 20-22, 26 and 29) (see table 7) regarding HIV and AIDS. Majority of Health Care Professionals adhered to universal precautions. Majority of males and females adhered to universal precautions although males adhered more than that of females. Majority of doctors, nurses and MLS adhered to universal precautions although MLS adhered more than nurses and doctors. There was no significant difference in the attitude of male and females HCPs regarding causative agent of AIDS, mode of transmission, preventive measures, treatment of HIV and AIDS and attitude towards PLWHA. While there were significant differences in the attitude of the different categories of HCPs regarding HIV and AIDS in the different attitudinal components; the practice of adherence to universal precautions by male and female HCPs and the practice of adherence by different categories of HCPs regarding HIV and AIDS. Based on major findings and conclusions and since the HCPs varied in their practice in adherence to universal precautions, there is need to organized regular seminars and workshops for all categories of HCPs to bridge the existing gaps. The management should sponsor them for more training, workshops and conferences on AIDS educational programmes. This will enhance their performance in their practice to adherence to universal precautions by the HCPs in Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba.
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
Background of the Study
The twenty-first century has witnessed the global health problem of HIV and AIDS, that has produced the greatest challenge to mankind. The epidemic is a global crisis, an unprecedented threat and a formidable challenge to human development and social progress. It poses a very great challenge to Health Care Professionals (HCPs) who are practitioners of disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and preservation of health. They are very important group in the prevention and management of blood-borne infections (HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis B). Reports have shown that HCPs are at risk of contacting the infection because of their close contact with the patients. Scully and Greenspan (2006) reported that a health care professional has been found to be HIV positive and subsequent investigations had revealed no other identified risk of exposure other than occupational exposure. Centres for Disease Control-CDC (2002) reported that there had been 57 occupational HIV infections among HCPs in the United States of America. In addition, 139 other cases of HIV infections or AIDS have been recorded among HCPs who reported a history of occupational exposure to HIV infected blood, body fluids or laboratory materials. A further 14 cases of occupational transmission of HIV in health care professionals have been diagnosed in United Kingdom (Heptonstall, Gill, Porter, Black & Gilbert, 1993). From the foregoing, one stands to reason that acquisition of appropriate knowledge, attitude and practice is important for health care professionals in the management of HIV and AIDS patients and for the reduction of risk of occupational transmission.
Attitude is concerned with ones feeling towards an object, person or thing (Okafor, 1991). Eyo (1995) defined attitude as a mental and neutral state of readiness organized through experience, exerting a directive or dynamic influence upon the individual’s responses to all objects and situations, which it relates. Attitude serves a primary function of bringing together the diverse experiences to which an individual is exposed and forming them into a cohesive, organized whole (Effa-Heap, 1997). Attitude, according to Odunukwe (2002), is evaluating feelings towards particular targets. He further stated that attitude represents an organization of positive and negative emotions. Park (2007) explained that attitude is a relatively enduring organization of beliefs around an object, subject or concept, which predispose one to respond in some preferential manner. He maintained that attitudes are acquired by social interaction. Attitude is a reaction to an object or something due to one’s belief against that object which makes him to behave in that particular way. In this study, attitude refers to favourable or unfavourable disposition health care professionals have towards people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). One’s attitude can influence one’s practices of health matters such as those concerned with taking adequate precautionary measures against contacting HIV and AIDS.
