TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge of final year undergraduate nursing students about HIV and AIDS in Eswatini
AU - Dlamini, Makhosazana C.
AU - Thobakgale, Ellen M.
AU - Govender, Indiran
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022. The Authors.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are overwhelming health issues globally. They have caused many devastating and draining health issues, which have escalated a critical need for a well-trained and sustainable healthcare workforce in order to meet the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Health science students are the future healthcare providers who will implement proper preventive measures, as well as health educational and promotional sessions to promote information and knowledge among the public regarding HIV and AIDS in Eswatini. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on 140 final-year undergraduate nursing students in three nursing universities in Eswatini. A questionnaire adapted from Othman and Ali in Malaysia with closed-ended questions was modified and used to collect data. The questionnaire consisted of questions on the virus structure, transmission, prevention and management of HIV and AIDS. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was utilised to analyse the data. Results: The level of knowledge about HIV and AIDS was high, as evidenced by a mean score and standard deviation of (91.02 ± 5.00). However, there were low scores on questions related to the transmission of the disease. Conclusion: Across all three universities in Eswatini, there were good nursing education programmes on HIV and AIDS, evidenced by the high knowledge level about HIV and AIDS. However, there are still some knowledge gaps on HIV and AIDS transmission and management that need to be attended to. Contribution: This study contributed by providing knowledge of undergraduate nursing students’ HIV and AIDS training and management of PLWHA.
AB - Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are overwhelming health issues globally. They have caused many devastating and draining health issues, which have escalated a critical need for a well-trained and sustainable healthcare workforce in order to meet the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Health science students are the future healthcare providers who will implement proper preventive measures, as well as health educational and promotional sessions to promote information and knowledge among the public regarding HIV and AIDS in Eswatini. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on 140 final-year undergraduate nursing students in three nursing universities in Eswatini. A questionnaire adapted from Othman and Ali in Malaysia with closed-ended questions was modified and used to collect data. The questionnaire consisted of questions on the virus structure, transmission, prevention and management of HIV and AIDS. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was utilised to analyse the data. Results: The level of knowledge about HIV and AIDS was high, as evidenced by a mean score and standard deviation of (91.02 ± 5.00). However, there were low scores on questions related to the transmission of the disease. Conclusion: Across all three universities in Eswatini, there were good nursing education programmes on HIV and AIDS, evidenced by the high knowledge level about HIV and AIDS. However, there are still some knowledge gaps on HIV and AIDS transmission and management that need to be attended to. Contribution: This study contributed by providing knowledge of undergraduate nursing students’ HIV and AIDS training and management of PLWHA.
KW - Eswatini
KW - HIV/AIDS
KW - knowledge
KW - nursing schools
KW - people living with HIV and AIDS
KW - undergraduate nursing students
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138015517&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4102/safp.v64i1.5527
DO - 10.4102/safp.v64i1.5527
M3 - Article
C2 - 36226946
AN - SCOPUS:85138015517
SN - 2078-6190
VL - 64
JO - South African Family Practice
JF - South African Family Practice
IS - 1
M1 - a5527
ER -
