Survey of HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes of Kuwaiti family physicians
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. fido@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to explore Kuwaiti family physicians' attitudes and knowledge about HIV/AIDS.
Methods: One hundred and sixty-two Kuwaiti family physicians (95 females and 67 males) from all four health catchment areas have completed a 30-item self-administered questionnaire to measure HIV/AIDS-related attitudes and knowledge.
Results: Knowledge was lacking in areas dealing with HIV-related neuropsychiatric complications and other issues concerning HIV/AIDS, special populations and range of normal sexuality. The majority of physicians expressed negative attitudes toward homosexuality and about AIDS patients in general. Eighty-three per cent of Kuwaiti family physicians would opt out of treating AIDS patients. More than half of the physicians would avoid coming into social contact with HIV-seropositive persons. No significant difference was found for the total knowledge and attitude scores for gender.
Conclusion: The results of this survey revealed that even in the second decade of the AIDS epidemic, some Kuwaiti family physicians continue to have a lack of proper knowledge about HIV and harbour negative attitudes toward AIDS patients. There is a need to promote an AIDS education early in the medical internship training years which addresses many underlying socio-cultural factors.
Similar articles
Mahfouz AA, Alakija W, al-Khozayem AA, al-Erian RA.J R Soc Health. 1995 Feb;115(1):23-5. doi: 10.1177/146642409511500108.PMID: 7738977
Patients with HIV/AIDS: physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and referral practices.
Fournier PO, Baldor RA, Warfield ME, Frazier B.J Fam Pract. 1997 Jan;44(1):85-9.PMID: 9010375
Patient attitudes and knowledge about HIV infection and AIDS.
Epstein R.J Fam Pract. 1991 Apr;32(4):373-7.PMID: 2010734
HIV and the primary care physician in Japan.
Asai A.J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1997;14 Suppl 2:S30-4. doi: 10.1097/00042560-199700002-00006.PMID: 9070511 Review.
Ethical dilemmas in care for HIV infection among French general practitioners.
Moatti JP, Souville M, Obadia Y, Morina M, Sebbah R, Gamby T, Gallais H, Gastaut JA.Health Policy. 1995 Mar;31(3):197-210. doi: 10.1016/0168-8510(94)00698-e.PMID: 10142616 Review.
Cited by
El Ansari W, Arafa M, Elbardisi H, Majzoub A, Mahdi M, Albakr A, AlRumaihi K, Al Ansari A.BMC Public Health. 2023 Mar 27;23(1):564. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14716-2.PMID: 36973770 Free PMC article. Review.
A survey of syphilis knowledge among medical providers and students in Rhode Island.
Bonnewell J, Magaziner S, Fava JL, Montgomery MC, Almonte A, Carey M, Chan PA.SAGE Open Med. 2020 Feb 4;8:2050312120902591. doi: 10.1177/2050312120902591. eCollection 2020.PMID: 32110401 Free PMC article.
Alghabashi MT, Guthrie B.BMC Res Notes. 2015 Nov 4;8:646. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1614-x.PMID: 26537121 Free PMC article. Review.
Can "presumed consent" justify the duty to treat infectious diseases? An analysis.
Civaner M, Arda B.BMC Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 6;8:29. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-8-29.PMID: 18325112 Free PMC article.
Nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to HIV transmission in northeastern China.
Chen WT, Han M, Holzemer WL.AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2004 Jul;18(7):417-22. doi: 10.1089/1087291041518247.PMID: 15307930 Free PMC article.