Abstract
Background: The incidence of HIV infection and AIDS is rising in Nigeria. Surgeons are at risk of
occupationally acquired infection as a result of intimate contact with the blood and body fluids of
patients. This study set out to determine the knowledge, attitude and risk perception of Nigerian
surgery residents to HIV infection and AIDS.
Methods: A self-administered postal questionnaire was sent to all surgery trainees in Nigeria in
1997.
Results: Parenteral exposure to patients' blood was reported as occurring 92.5% times, and most
respondents assessed their risk of becoming infected with HIV as being moderate at 1-5%. The
majority of the respondents were not aware of the CDC guidelines on universal precautions against
blood-borne pathogens. Most support a policy of routinely testing all surgical patients for HIV
infection but 76.8% work in centers where there is no policy on parenteral exposure to patients'
blood and body fluids. Most (85.6%) do not routinely use all the protective measures advocated for
the reduction of transmission of blood borne pathogens during surgery, with the majority ascribing
this to non-availability. Most want surgeons to be the primary formulators of policy on HIV and
surgery while not completely excluding other stakeholders.
Conclusions: The study demonstrates the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian
surgery trainees in 1997 and the need for policy guidelines to manage all aspects of the healthcare
worker (HCW), patients, and HIV/AIDS interaction.
Ogundiran, T (2021). Survey of the knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian surgery trainees to HIV-infected persons and AIDS patients. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/survey-of-the-knowledge-attitude-and-practice-of-nigerian-surgery-trainees-to-hiv-infected-persons-and-aids-patients-1
Ogundiran, Temidayo "Survey of the knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian surgery trainees to HIV-infected persons and AIDS patients" Afribary. Afribary, 21 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/survey-of-the-knowledge-attitude-and-practice-of-nigerian-surgery-trainees-to-hiv-infected-persons-and-aids-patients-1. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Ogundiran, Temidayo . "Survey of the knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian surgery trainees to HIV-infected persons and AIDS patients". Afribary, Afribary, 21 Apr. 2021. Web. 26 Dec. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/survey-of-the-knowledge-attitude-and-practice-of-nigerian-surgery-trainees-to-hiv-infected-persons-and-aids-patients-1 >.
Ogundiran, Temidayo . "Survey of the knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian surgery trainees to HIV-infected persons and AIDS patients" Afribary (2021). Accessed December 26, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/survey-of-the-knowledge-attitude-and-practice-of-nigerian-surgery-trainees-to-hiv-infected-persons-and-aids-patients-1