M-PH : knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding counselling behaviour for HIV and AIDS, STIs and TB : a survey of eThekwini district primary health care workers.
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Date
2012
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Abstract
Background
HIV infection continues to be a challenge in South Africa with new infections reported
at alarming rates. Health Care Workers (HCWs) who are nurses consequently have
frequent contact with HIV positive and TB co-infected patients. During this contact
their counselling behaviour is influenced by their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes
about HIV and AIDS, STIs and TB (HAST) and may influence provision as well as
the quality of HAST counselling behaviour.
Aim
The aim of the study was to assess eThekwini Municipality Health Care Workers’
knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding counselling behaviour for HAST and to
make recommendations based on the findings of this study.
Methods
A descriptive cross sectional study design was used in which data about HAST
counselling behaviour were collected using self administered questionnaires. The
study population was all the nurses working at eThekwini Municipality Health clinics
that were on duty at the time of the study and excluded those nurses who were
absent or on leave during the period of data collection. Informed consent was signed
by each respondent. Data were captured using SPSS version 14 and univariate,
bivariate and multivariate analysis was undertaken. The level of significance was
P<0, 05.
Results
The HCWs were well informed regarding counselling behaviour for HAST. HCWs
with university education scored higher than those with college level of education but
there were no statistically significant differences between the HCWs with the
university education and those with college education. However some HCWs’
attitudes and beliefs about poverty were negative and may not be helpful in
improving a patient’s health. Results showed that some HCWs’ negative attitudes
about HAST counselling resulted from fear of HIV and or TB infection. Age and the
level of education showed statistically significant association with beliefs. Older,
better educated HCWs with a university education scored higher for knowledge for
HAST counselling behaviour. There was no statistical significant difference found
between HCWs who see less than 100 patients per day and those who see more
than 100 patients per day.
Conclusion
The findings of the study show that HCWs were well informed regarding
counselling behaviour for HAST, even though some HCWs have negative
attitudes which are not supportive which need to be addressed.
Recommendations It is recommended that HCWs receive continuous training in order to address the
negative attitudes about counselling behaviour for HAST.
Description
Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012
Keywords
Health counselling--KwaZulu-Natal--eThekwini district., Health counsellors--KwaZulu-Natal--eThekwini district, Primary health care--KwaZulu-Natal--eThekwini district, Nursing--KwaZulu-Natal--eThekwini district., Theses--Public health.