Original scientific paper
HIV– Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice among Health Care Workers in Montenegro
Zorana Gledović
; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, Serbia
Božidarka Rakočević
; Institute of Public Health, Podgorica, Montenegro
Boban Mugoša
; Institute of Public Health, Podgorica, Montenegro
Anita Grgurević
; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to assess HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practice of health care workers
(HCWs) in Montenegro. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the University Clinical Centre of Montenegro in Podgorica.
A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used for data collecting. Out of 526 HCWs, 422 were included
in the survey and response rate was 80%. An insuffi cient level of knowledge on HIV transmission and the risk after exposure
was observed generally, although the knowledge was better in physicians compared to other HCWs categories. A
rather high proportion of HCWs showed inappropriate attitude regarding the need of HIV testing of all hospitalized patients
(64.7%) and obligation of HIV+ patient to report his/her HIV status (88.9%) in order to practice universal precaution.
Additionally, 6.2% HCWs would refuse to treat an HIV+ patient. More than a half (55.7%) of study participants were
educated in HIV/AIDS and 15.9 % of them were HIV tested. Majority of HCWs (67.5%) always applied universal precautions
during their daily work with patients. In spite of applying protective devices, number of accidents was great. A
continuous education is necessary to increase the level of knowledge of HCWs about the risk of infection at the workplace.
This would potentially infl uence the modifi cation of their attitudes regarding HIV patients and improve prevention at the
workplace. Continuous research regarding the professional risk would provide better health and safety among medical
staff.
Keywords
health care workers; knowledge; attitudes; HIV
Hrčak ID:
147693
URI
Publication date:
30.3.2015.
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