Abstract
Objective: To determine the perceived difficulties in providing HIV/AIDS services among public health nurses and to identify their correlates, we carried out a cross-sectional study in the Kinki region of western Japan. Methods: Structured self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all public health nurses in the region, and 1535 valid questionnaires were retrieved (valid response rate 78.7%). Results: More than half of the participants (52.8%) reported difficulties with HIV/AIDS services. The factors associated with perceived difficulties were having a negative attitude towards consultations on sexual matters (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.2, p p = 0.002 and AOR 1.8, p p p = 0.016), and low permissiveness of the diversity of sexual behavior (AOR 2.0, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that nursing and public health nursing education in Japan should cover sexual issues and HIV/AIDS in a more systematic way.
Highlights
According to the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s HIV/AIDS Surveillance Committee, 1056 and 473 new HIV and AIDS cases were reported in 2011, respectively
Overall, our results suggest that nursing and public health nursing education in Japan should cover sexual issues and HIV/AIDS in a more systematic way
There is a study suggesting that being friends with sexual minorities would have a positive impact on nurses’ attitudes towards such minorities, our findings suggest that this has no real impact on perceived difficulties regarding HIV/AIDS services [20]
Summary
According to the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s HIV/AIDS Surveillance Committee, 1056 and 473 new HIV and AIDS cases were reported in 2011, respectively. They consider such counseling/testing services difficult to execute, and feel hesitant, unwilling, or uncomfortable in providing these services [4] This lack of confidence and discomfort in relation to a particular subject or activity is called a “sense of nigate” in Japanese. Another study of physicians and physician assistants in Southeast China found that unfavorable attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS were reported mostly by physicians from remote areas, which the authors of the study interpreted as being influenced by their educational background [18] Given these findings, the second objective of this study was to explore the factors that correlate with perceived difficulties regarding HIV/AIDS services among Japanese public health nurses. Sexual diversity will have higher perceived difficulties regarding HIV/AIDS services; and (3) public health nurses with low permissive attitudes towards diversity of sexual behavior will have higher perceived difficulties regarding HIV/AIDS services
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
