1/2. Ethical issues related to hiv/AIDS: case reports.The continents of Africa and asia have the highest number of hiv infected persons in the world. Worldwide there are 42 million and 29.7 million (70%) are in sub Saharan Africa [united nations AIDS (UNAIDS). Available from: www.unaids.org]. The stigma and discrimination attached to hiv/AIDS are hampering control of the disease. family life has greatly been disrupted by the pandemic. AIDS causes illness, disability and death as well as severe economic and emotional disruptions to the families. The epidemic is well established in south africa. The mortality will be doubled over the next five years. A broad range of coercive measures has been considered to be applied internationally in the interest of controlling the spread of hiv. Responsibility of the employers to their hiv/AIDS employees at workplace, choice of termination of pregnancy when a woman is hiv positive, attitude of health care provider to their hiv infected patients, informed consent for taking blood to protect from transmission of infection in a case of accidental prick, and forced resignation from employment, are discussed in this manuscript. The ethical problems are highlighted, and possible solutions recommended.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = discrimination (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. infection control and hiv-related discrimination and anxiety. Glove use during venipuncture.OBJECTIVE: Reports into hiv-related discrimination reveal continuing concerns about the behaviour of health care workers, particularly with reference to practices such as excessive or selective infection control. This study examines whether the selective adoption of an infection control procedure (using gloves during venipuncture) is related to discriminatory attitudes, anxiety about hiv/AIDS and the degree of contact with hiv-infected patients. METHOD: In 1993 and 1994, 451 general practitioners (GPs) were surveyed in six of the 12 new south wales health Areas and Regions. The sample included 49 anti-retroviral prescribers. GPs were presented with six patient scenarios and asked with whom they would use gloves during venipuncture. RESULTS: 41.9% of GPs reported that they would selectively use gloves, and generally targeted the homosexual patient only, or combinations of patients that included the homosexual man. GPs revealed poor compliance with universal precautions, as only 37.5% reported that they would use gloves with all of the six patients. Intended glove use was significantly related to hiv-related discrimination (p < 0.0001) and anxiety about hiv/AIDS (p < 0.0001). GPs who selectively chose to use gloves had the highest discrimination and anxiety scores; GPs who chose not to use gloves with any of the patients had the lowest discrimination and anxiety scores, and were more likely to work in hiv medicine. Except for differences in health Area, this study did not identify any factors that helped to explain which GPs consistently followed universal precautions. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that selective infection control is related to discriminatory attitudes and anxiety about hiv/AIDS. GPs can avoid a discriminatory practice by consistently following universal precautions. More research is needed to identify the factors that promote good infection control practices.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = discrimination (Clic here for more details about this article) |