Knowledge, attitude and practices towards HIV among nurses in a tertiary care teaching hospital: two decades after the discovery.

Accidental transmission of HIV infection to health care workers during occupational exposure is a real threat today. The first such case in India has been documented by NACO recently. Adequate knowledge about the disease and practice of safety measures are our best bet to reduce such transmission. A survey was carried out amongst over 500 nurses in a tertiary care referral hospital in Delhi to assess their knowledge, attitude and practices towards HIV/AIDS. While overall knowledge was satisfactory, there were gaping holes in vital areas. The conversion of their theoretical knowledge into safe practices was shockingly poor. It was due to attitude problems as much as inadequate supplies. High incidence of accidental exposures in the near past and complete ignorance of post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines was another highlight of this study. Despite tremendous efforts put in by the Government as well as various Non-Governmental Organizations, we are completely ill equipped to fight the menace of occupational HIV transmission. In order to fight this menace, safe practices have to be made a way of life for HCWs. Our health care planners need to take note of it and our teaching and training programmes need complete re-orientation to achieve this goal.