Rural Nursing Students’ Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and Beliefs and their Attitude Towards People Living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

One of the most comp lex and co mplicated health problems confronting the world today is HIV/AIDS. The pandemic of HIV/AIDS has been worldwide classified as the most deadly sexually transmitted disease ever to confront humanity. As no cure is yet found, the need to curb the problem is paramount for the continuity of the hu man race. The acceptance and care for people living with HIV/AIDS is one issue often undermined. Th is study investigated the knowledge, beliefs of rural nursing students' and attitude towards people liv ing with HIV/AIDS. The descriptive survey design was emp loyed for this study. A sample of 150 nursing students were randomly selected for the study. A self developed scale was used for data collect ion fro m the participants. Data was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multip le regression statistics. The result indicated that there was significant relationship between the participants knowledge of HIV/AIDS, beliefs and attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS. The two independent variables accounted for 32.1% variance of the attitude to people liv ing with HIV/AIDS. Based on these findings, it was suggested as a matter of urgency that adequate training be provided for nurses with regards to HIV/AIDS causes, mode of in fection, spread and management.