Doctors' attitudes to the care of children with HIV in South Africa

A descriptive survey was conducted on the attitudes of medical staff to caring for HIV-infected children, in three teaching hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa. The study was designed to determine whether the knowledge of a patient's HIV-positive status affects the doctor's attitude and management, to determine doctors' perceived competence with regard to the management of paediatric AIDS and to identify their major concerns in the management of paediatric patients with HIV-infection. The response rate was 86, including 89 of consultants, 81 of registrars and 87 of medical officers employed at the hospitals during the period July/August 1996. The study has highlighted that doctors working in a situation where the epidemic has only recently emerged perceive themselves as being inadequate with regard to managing HIV infection in children. There are indications that doctors may be influenced by the HIV-positive status of children when making decisions regarding their medical management. One of the major concerns with regard to the management of patients with HIV, expressed by doctors in the study, was the lack of management protocols and policy guidelines.