Knowledge attitude and practice of HIV self-testing among health workers of Kampala International University teaching hospital Bushenyi Uganda
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Date
2018-04
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Abstract
Background: Despite the many advancements made in health in the world, many countries continue to exhibit negative trends concerning the health of their people largely due to the AIDS pandemic. HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) is an essential component of an effective response to the AIDS pandemic worldwide. However, it has become increasingly apparent
that workplace programmers on HIV have overlooked hospital workers even though they are too at risk of HIV infection both from occupational and non-occupational factors. Although they are at risk of HIV infection very few health personnel are aware of their HIV status and quite a limited number of them have been able to seek Voluntary
Counseling and Testing services
Methods: To achieve this, a hospital based cross – sectional study was carried out in KIUTH. The study subjects were different cadres of medically trained health providers including Doctors, Nurses, Clinical Officers, VCT counselors and other technical Pharmacist staff. Data was collected by use of a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire schedule. The questionnaire was administered to 292 study subjects. The data was analyzed using SPAS programme, correlation and OR were used to determine association between variables.
Results: The results indicated that half (52%) of health providers had utilized HIVST, but 60 % of them had been tested for HIV. VCT Counselors had utilized HIVST more than any other health worker, followed by doctors (65%). Pharmacists had utilized HIVST least
(41%). The study also found that those with high level of positive attitudes towards HIVST utilization had a higher HIVST uptake compared to those with lower level of positive attitudes. Those with higher knowledge on HIVST also exhibited a higher rate HIVST uptake than those with relatively low level of knowledge. Conclusion: In conclusion this study found gaps in knowledge on HIVST and attitudes /
perception towards HIVST which needs to be addressed. In view of the above findings, it is recommended that Health care Providers should promote HIVST uptake and also need further training on HIVST to bridge the gaps identified on knowledge in this study.
Description
A Research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirement for a ward of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Kampala International University
Keywords
Knowledge attitude, HIV self-testing, Health workers, Bushenyi, Uganda