Academic Paper from the year 2017 in the subject Pedagogy - Job Education, Occupational Training, Further Education, grade: 100, University of Central Florida (School of Nursing), language: English, abstract: HIV/AIDS is a very present pandemic and has claimed the lives of more than 35 million people worldwide. Persons living with HIV/AIDS often require health care during the course of their disease and in an array of healthcare settings. Nurses are often the frontrunners of patient care and it is essential that care is provided without bias, stigma or poor attitudes towards the patient. Although some countries offer HIV/AIDS education to student nurses, few have mandatory and standardized HIV/AIDS education. This review includes four studies that compare the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS education on stigmas and attitudes towards PLWHA. In consideration of the growing numbers of PLWHA, nursing students may benefit from generalized education to address attitudes and stigmas towards any patient, not just the PLWHA.

The aim of this study was to identify the attitudes of nursing students in Alabama toward people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and then further explore how specific attitudes impact students' willingness to care for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). In addition, influence on attitudes based on differences in socio-demographic characteristics were investigated. Exploration into students' perceptions regarding how close others would view them if they were to care for PLWH, and students' perceptions of how their communities, religion, and nursing education have influenced their attitudes were also performed. A sequential mixed methods study examined the attitudes of senior level students (n=36) from one Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) and three Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs. Students completed the HIV/AIDS Provider Stigma Inventory (HAPSI) using Awareness and Acceptance scales to identify sigma related tendencies, and a socio-demographic questionnaire via online survey. Findings were further explored using individual semi-structured telephone interviews with students (n=9) who completed the online survey. Descriptive statistics and themes suggest that nursing students in Alabama carry generally positive attitudes and a willingness to care for PLWH, and the attitudes of close others have no influence on their own attitudes or willingness to care for this population. However, underlying stigmas were found to be associated with lifestyle factors associated with HIV transmission. There were significant differences found between White and non-White nursing students on both Acceptance and overall HAPSI scale scores, indicating more stigmatizing tendencies toward PLWH among white students. There were differences in Awareness scores between male and female nursing students, with males scoring higher indicating more stigma related tendencies. Themes revealed through interviews suggest that nursing students have concerns about lacking HIV knowledge and experience in caring for PLWH. However, students revealed that education within their respective nursing programs had increased some HIV knowledge. Both nursing education and religious faith had influence on students' compassionate attitudes toward caring for PLWH, despite underlying stigma. Theory of Reasoned Action provided a frame work for understanding attitudes and willingness to care, and how these attitudes are influenced by students' behavioral beliefs and normative beliefs. Findings revealed in this study may assist nurse educators in developing curriculum which focuses on both psychosocial and physical aspects of caring for PLWH.

Abstract: Thirty-five years have passed since the HIV epidemic began and the stigma associated with the disease is still present today. This study examined the level of HIV stigma that exists among students attending a nursing school in an area with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The study also determined if the level of stigma differed between pre-licensure and post-licensure nursing students.

Up until now, many articles have been written to portray stigma and discrimination which occur with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in many parts of the world. But this is the first book which attempts to put together results from empirical research relating to stigma, discrimination and living with HIV/AIDS. The focus of this book is on issues relevant to stigma and discrimination which have occurred to individuals and groups in different parts of the globe, as well as how these individuals and groups attempt to deal with HIV/AIDS. The book comprises chapters written by researchers who carry out their projects in different parts of the world and each chapter contains empirical information based on real life situations. This can be used as an evidence for health care providers to implement socially and culturally appropriate services to assist individuals and groups who are living with HIV/AIDS in many societies. The book is of interest to health care providers who have their interests in working with individuals and groups who are living with HIV/AIDS from a cross-cultural perspective. It will be useful for students and lecturers in courses such as anthropology, sociology, social work, nursing, public health and medicine. In particular, it will assist health workers in community health centres and hospitals in understanding issues related to HIV/AIDS and hence provide culturally sensitive health care to people living with HIV/AIDS from different social and cultural backgrounds. The book is useful for anyone who is interested in HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in diverse social and cultural settings.