Healthcare providers (HCPs) attitude towards older adults with HIV and AIDS in Botswana

Abstract

This study obtained the views of a random sample of 164 healthcare practitioners on their attitudes to older adults with HIV and AIDS. It shows that although the knowledge of protective measures to avoid HIV infection, mode of transmission and stigmatization are high among the healthcare providers (HCPs), yet the majority of them (76.2% of medical officers, 80.4% of nurses and 93.3% of others) are aware of discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV). Attitudes of HCPs to older adults with HIV with respect to quality of life, tolerance, education and training, support and treatment of PLHIV are positive, but they significantly differ on issues of blame and sexual attitude of the PLHIV. There is very little engagement between the HCPs and the older adults on their sexual characteristics which can be attributed to the low literacy of the PLHIV. The study recommends appropriate education and counselling, more awareness creation of HIV, its mode of infection, prevention and treatment among HCPs, to eliminate the fears associated with HIV and AIDS. Health facility policies and stringent laws against discrimination need to be put in place. Key words: People living with HIV (PLHIV), healthcare providers, attitude, older adults, HIV, AIDS