Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the level and predictors of discriminatory attitudes of pharmacy students and pharmacists towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of pharmacy students and pharmacists (n = 523) to assess discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA was conducted using a self completed questionnaire. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted. Results: Pharmacists were more knowledgeable and had less negative perceptions than students towards PLWHA. Level of professional training (p < 0.0001), knowledge status (p < 0.0001) and five negative perception items, namely, (a) people who got HIV through sex deserve it (p = 0.003), (b) PLWHA would make their colleagues apprehensive (p < 0.0001), (c) PLWHA have poor hygiene (r = 0.082, p = 0.032), (d) PLWHA should feel ashamed of themselves (p < 0.0001), and (e) people who behave promiscuously should be blamed for AIDS (p = 0.031), were all significantly associated with higher discrimination. However, being a student and having negative perceptions such as “PLWHA should feel ashamed of themselves and “PLWHA would make their colleagues apprehensive” were independent predictors of discrimination. Conclusions: Discriminatory attitudes against PLWHA among pharmacy students and pharmacists who participated in this study were high and level of training and their perceptions were contributory.
Highlights
Recent statistics show that the incidence of new HIV infections worldwide tends to be on the decline but the stigmatization associated with the disease and those affected continues to be on the increase [1]
More worrisome is the high prevalence of stigmatization and eventual discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) among health professionals who have direct contact with patients’ body fluids [2,3,4,5,6]
Our study sought to provide answers to three study questions: (1) does discrimination of PLWHA exist among pharmacy students and pharmacists? (2) Are negative perceptions towards PLWHA and poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS among pharmacists and students associated with discriminatory attitudes, if any, towards them? (3) Does the level of training and experience influence these discriminatory attitudes if they exist?
Summary
Recent statistics show that the incidence of new HIV infections worldwide tends to be on the decline but the stigmatization associated with the disease and those affected continues to be on the increase [1]. Studies showing varying levels of high discriminatory attitudes among doctors [2,3], nurses [4,5], midwives [5] and physiotherapists [6] have been reported in literature. These attitudes have consistently been found to pose as impediments to successful testing and treatment services offered this group of patients [7,8]. Ahmed et al explored levels of pharmacy students’ attitude and risk perception of HIV/AIDS between Malay and Chinese students, and found discriminating attitudes and perceptions to be common [10]. Our study sought to provide answers to three study questions: (1) does discrimination of PLWHA exist among pharmacy students and pharmacists? (2) Are negative perceptions towards PLWHA and poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS among pharmacists and students associated with discriminatory attitudes, if any, towards them? (3) Does the level of training and experience influence these discriminatory attitudes if they exist?
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