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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care

Assessment of Healthcare Workers’ Understanding of PLHIV’s Rights Based on the Framework of HIV and AIDS Act 2017 in India

  • Shivangi Das1
  • Asmita Patnaik1
  • Kalolini D. Samant1
  • Subhakanta Sahu2
  • Hrushikesh Das1
  • Mili Roopchand Sahay1
  • Jitendriya Amrit Pritam1
  • Sneha Pattanayak3
  • Debkumar Pal4
  • Sonu Hangma Subba5
  • Binod Kumar Patro5
  • Abhisek Mishra5
2 more authors
  • Baijayantimala Mishra6
  • Arvind Kumar Singh1,5
6 affiliations
  1. 1Regional Institute for HIV Surveillance and Epidemiology, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  2. 2Department of Community Medicine, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India
  3. 3Department of Research and Development, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  4. 4Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Kalyani, West Bengal, India
  5. 5Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  6. 6Department of Microbiology, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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Abstract

Background: The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017, implemented in 2018, is a central legislation that aims to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS while protecting the legal and human rights of people living with HIV (PLHIV), as well as the rights of healthcare workers (HCWs). However, evidence on HCWs’ knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) related to the Act and rights of PLHIV remains limited in Eastern India. This study aimed to assess the KAP of HCWs regarding the rights of PLHIV as mandated under the Act.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted during a one-day sensitization workshop on the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 in March 2024. All registered participants aged 20 years or more (doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, counsellors and hospital attendants) were included (N = 170). Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire covering baseline attributes and 11 knowledge, 11 attitude and 22 practice items. Each correct response was scored as one and incorrect response was scored as ‘zero’; domain scores were dichotomized at 50% into good or poor knowledge and practice and positive or negative attitude. Data were analysed in SPSS v26.0 using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression.

Results: Of the 170 HCWs, 70 (41.2%) participants had ever heard of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017, and 65 (38.2%) demonstrated good knowledge. Positive attitude towards PLHIV was observed in 169 (99.4%) participants, and good practices were reported by 138 (81.2%). Participants without prior experience of working with PLHIV had significantly lower odds of good knowledge (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.21–0.77) and good practices (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.10–0.64).

Conclusion: Despite positive attitudes, significant gaps exist in HCW’s knowledge of the Act, necessitating systematic sensitization and periodic refresher training of HCWs on Act for stigma-free care to PLHIV.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{das2026assessment,
  title = {{Assessment of Healthcare Workers’ Understanding of PLHIV’s Rights Based on the Framework of HIV and AIDS Act 2017 in India}},
  author = {Shivangi Das and Asmita Patnaik and Kalolini D. Samant and Subhakanta Sahu and Hrushikesh Das and Mili Roopchand Sahay and Jitendriya Amrit Pritam and Sneha Pattanayak and Debkumar Pal and Sonu Hangma Subba and Binod Kumar Patro and Abhisek Mishra and Baijayantimala Mishra and Arvind Kumar Singh},
  journal = {Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1177/23259582261488593},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582261488593},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Assessment of Healthcare Workers’ Understanding of PLHIV’s Rights Based on the Framework of HIV and AIDS Act 2017 in India
AU  - Shivangi Das
AU  - Asmita Patnaik
AU  - Kalolini D. Samant
AU  - Subhakanta Sahu
AU  - Hrushikesh Das
AU  - Mili Roopchand Sahay
AU  - Jitendriya Amrit Pritam
AU  - Sneha Pattanayak
AU  - Debkumar Pal
AU  - Sonu Hangma Subba
AU  - Binod Kumar Patro
AU  - Abhisek Mishra
AU  - Baijayantimala Mishra
AU  - Arvind Kumar Singh
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/15
JO  - Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
DO  - 10.1177/23259582261488593
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582261488593
AB  - Background: The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017, implemented in 2018, is a central legislation that aims to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS while protecting the legal and human rights of people living with HIV (PLHIV), as well as the rights of healthcare workers (HCWs). However, evidence on HCWs’ knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) related to the Act and rights of PLHIV remains limited in Eastern India. This study aimed to assess the KAP of HCWs regarding the rights of PLHIV as mandated under the Act.  Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted during a one-day sensitization workshop on the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 in March 2024. All registered participants aged 20 years or more (doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, counsellors and hospital attendants) were included (N = 170). Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire covering baseline attributes and 11 knowledge, 11 attitude and 22 practice items. Each correct response was scored as one and incorrect response was scored as ‘zero’; domain scores were dichotomized at 50% into good or poor knowledge and practice and positive or negative attitude. Data were analysed in SPSS v26.0 using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression.  Results: Of the 170 HCWs, 70 (41.2%) participants had ever heard of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017, and 65 (38.2%) demonstrated good knowledge. Positive attitude towards PLHIV was observed in 169 (99.4%) participants, and good practices were reported by 138 (81.2%). Participants without prior experience of working with PLHIV had significantly lower odds of good knowledge (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.21–0.77) and good practices (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.10–0.64).  Conclusion: Despite positive attitudes, significant gaps exist in HCW’s knowledge of the Act, necessitating systematic sensitization and periodic refresher training of HCWs on Act for stigma-free care to PLHIV.
SN  - 2325-9574
SN  - 2325-9582
ER  -