[Attitude and structural barriers detected in primary care physicians towards treating patients with HIV/AIDS infection].

OBJECTIVES

To identify attitudes, knowledge and self-perceived risks among doctors in the Este-Oriente District of Sevilla concerning HIV/AIDS infection; to detect attitude problems and structural barriers affecting doctors' predisposition towards patients with HIV/AIDS infection.

DESIGN

A cross sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire.

SETTING

Este-Oriente Primary Care district, Sevilla.

PARTICIPANTS

Permanent and provisional doctors and paediatricians working in the district during the survey.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Reply rate was 86% (n = 111). Most doctors (85%) had treated one or more patients with HIV. 91% thought they had to treat these persons. However, 21% would not work with them, if they had the choice.

CONCLUSIONS

Attitudes of doctors and paediatricians in the Este-Oriente district of Sevilla towards HIV/AIDS patients can be qualified as positive. Most doctors need to extend their knowledge of this disease. The perception of risk of contagion is high and higher than the real risk. Important attitude and structural barriers to care provision were detected: intervention strategies were proposed by the doctors and paediatricians of this district.