Abstract

N. Gedu and N. Tshotsho

A quantitative descriptive study design was used to determine the knowledge and attitude of registered nurses towards AIDS patients at a rural hospital where nurses were the main careers. Data were collected from a sample of 109 using a structured self-administered questionnaire and was analyzed using the SPSS 17.0. 88% and 62% of the nurses knew that the main modes of transmission of the virus were sexual intercourse and mother to child; 96%, 93% knew that other modes of transmission were breast feeding and blood transfusion. 85%, 80%, 82%, 74%, 73%, knew that the virus was not transmitted through sharing of cups, mosquito bites, contact with urine, coughing and sneezing. The majority of nurses had a negative attitude as they agreed that patients deserve punishment, should not be admitted, should be isolated, their beds should be marked, patients’ relatives to be notified of their status without their consent and that they would not to care for such patients. A minority agreed that patients were not responsible for their illness, did not deserve punishment, and that they would assist with the delivery of the patients’ babies. Nurses in rural hospitals should be very knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and to adopt positive attitude.