Some aids-related policy issues and nursing students' willingness to provide aids care

By 2000 1 out of every 6 HIV-infected people in the world will be in India. While the extent of HIV seroconversion following occupational exposure is reported to be very low HIV continues to be a major concern among health care workers. 233 female diploma students aged 17-23 years from a nursing school in Delhi were surveyed anonymously to seek their opinion on certain AIDS-related policy issues and their willingness to care for people with AIDS. More than 25% of the students believed that health personnel should be allowed to choose whether or not to provide care to people with AIDS while an equal percentage felt that authorities should be empowered to terminate the services of such personnel. 64-85% of the respondents favored compulsory HIV testing for selected high risk groups indoor patients and health workers. Because of the fear of contracting HIV through occupational exposure 41.2% of students felt that girls may not choose a nursing career while 10.7% were even thinking about leaving the profession. 58-72% were willing to nurse high risk patients if provided adequate training and preventive measures in the health care settings. Nursing students need to be trained to provide humane compassionate care to AIDS patients.