Knowledge and Attitudes of Doctors Toward People Living With HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES

Reports showed that Saudi Arabia has low prevalence of HIV/AIDS despite increasing influx of foreign nationals from countries with high risk of HIV. Knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes of health care workers contribute to difficulties of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) accessing prevention, care, and treatment services. Nothing is known about stigma and discrimination about PLWHA in Saudi Arabia.

DESIGN

We assessed knowledge of Saudi Arabian doctors about HIV and their attitudes toward PLWHA using a cross-sectional study design.

METHOD

In this study, 1483 doctors completed a self-administered questionnaire.

RESULT

Knowledge scores and stigma index were computed from responses to relevant statements in the questionnaire. Stigmatizing attitudes of contact, reproductive rights, blaming, and judgmental were identified. HIV knowledge was a significant predictor of high stigma. Doctors' year of medical practice, status/specialty, and location of practice in Saudi Arabia were major predictors of HIV knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence of poor knowledge of HIV suggests the need for further training of health workers on HIV transmission mode.