Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to HIV Stigma and Discrimination Among Healthcare Workers in Oman

Objectives: Stigma and discrimination undermine the quality of life of people with HIV and their access to health services. This study aimed to assess HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study took place between July and November 2016. A questionnaire was distributed to 1,400 government HCWs to determine HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices. Results: A total of 1,281 HCWs participated (response rate = 92%). Routine tasks, such as dressing wounds, drawing blood and touching clothes, were a cause of concern for 24–52% of HCWs. Only 69% correctly answered questions regarding the transmission of HIV via eating/drinking and mosquito bites. Compared to other HCWs, doctors had significantly higher knowledge (mean = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19 to 0.73; P <0.001), attitude (mean = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.24; P = 0.001) and practice (mean = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.59 to 2.55; P <0.001) scores. Expatriates also scored significantly higher in knowledge (mean = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.23; P <0.001), attitude (mean = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.48; P <0.001) and practice (mean = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.34; P <0.001) compared to Omani nationals. Finally, those with >15 years’ work experience scored significantly higher on knowledge (mean = −0.60, 95% CI: −1.12 to −0.08; P = 0.025) and attitude (mean = −0.99, 95% CI: −1.87 to −0.10; P = 0.029) compared to those with less experience. Conclusion: The high rate of HIV-related stigma among HCWs in Oman should be rectified in order to achieve the 90-90-90 target set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.Keywords: HIV; Social Stigma; Social Discrimination; Knowledge; Attitude; Professional Practice; Healthcare Providers; Oman

DEHYDRATION DUE TO DIARRHEA;

Background objective: Acute diarrheal diseases leading to dehydration,are among the leading causes of mortality in infants and young children in many developingcountries. The objective of our study was to to assess knowledge, attitude and practice ofmothers about use of oral rehydration salt for management of dehydration due to diarrhea inchildren less than five years of age. Study Design: Hospital based cross-sectional descriptivestudy. Setting: Oral rehydration center of Government Infectious Disease Children HospitalPeshawar. Period: February 16th, 2009 to March, 17th 2009. Patients and Methods: We enrolled115 mothers of infants and children less than five years old by systematic random sampling.We included willing mothers for this study, children less than five years old showing some orno signs of dehydration due to three or more than three episodes of diarrhea within 24 hours.Exclusion criteria included unwilling mothers, severe dehydration due to diarrhea, complaintsof severe vomiting and those having dysentery. Results: We evaluated 115 mothers, withmajority 88 (76%) were 15-25 years age group and 27 (24%) were 26-36 years who visited oralrehydration center respectively. Majority of mothers were uneducated 97 (84%), Housewives103 (90%), 59 (51%) had 4-6 children, 72 (63%) were living in Kacha house and about 84 (73%)had monthly family income less than 5000 rupees. It was found that 72 (63%) mothers knewbenefits of oral rehydration salt in diarrheal dehydration. About 67 (58%) mothers were able totell correct method of ORS preparation. 47 (41%) mothers knew that ORS should be discardedafter one day usage, while 42 (37%) did not know. Doctors, 83 (72%) were found to be the mostcommon source of information regarding ORS usage, followed by mothers-in-law, 21 (18%)and lady health workders (LHWs), 10 (10%) Conclusion: We concludedm young mothers anduneducated motheres of children below five years were of opinion that only medicine is the bestmanagement for diarrheal dehydration.</jats:p

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to HIV Stigma and Discrimination Among Healthcare Workers in Oman

Objectives: Stigma and discrimination undermine the quality of life of people with HIV and their access to health services. This study aimed to assess HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study took place between July and November 2016. A questionnaire was distributed to 1,400 government HCWs to determine HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices. Results: A total of 1,281 HCWs participated (response rate = 92%). Routine tasks, such as dressing wounds, drawing blood and touching clothes, were a cause of concern for 24–52% of HCWs. Only 69% correctly answered questions regarding the transmission of HIV via eating/drinking and mosquito bites. Compared to other HCWs, doctors had significantly higher knowledge (mean = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19 to 0.73; P &lt;0.001), attitude (mean = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.24; P = 0.001) and practice (mean = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.59 to 2.55; P &lt;0.001) scores. Expatriates also scored significantly higher in knowledge (mean = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.23; P &lt;0.001), attitude (mean = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.48; P &lt;0.001) and practice (mean = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.34; P &lt;0.001) compared to Omani nationals. Finally, those with &gt;15 years’ work experience scored significantly higher on knowledge (mean = −0.60, 95% CI: −1.12 to −0.08; P = 0.025) and attitude (mean = −0.99, 95% CI: −1.87 to −0.10; P = 0.029) compared to those with less experience. Conclusion: The high rate of HIV-related stigma among HCWs in Oman should be rectified in order to achieve the 90-90-90 target set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.Keywords: HIV; Social Stigma; Social Discrimination; Knowledge; Attitude; Professional Practice; Healthcare Providers; Oman.</jats:p