Factors associated with the presence of stigma towards people living with HIV among healthcare workers in Poland.

Background: People living with HIV constantly face stigma and discrimination. The role of healthcare workers in fighting stigmatisation, especially self-stigmatisation, remains a key component.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey study was designed to measure HIV knowledge and attitudes in various healthcare settings in Europe and Central Asia. Responses from Poland were analysed separately and stratified by profession, length of work, experience with patients with HIV and gender.

Results: A total of 134 questionnaires were collected. The median age of participants was 41. Most of the participants were female (70.9%), doctors (57.9%), working for more than 10 years (73.9%) and working in a hospital (66.2%). Most of the respondents did not take care of people living with HIV in the year before implementing the survey (56.7%). At the same time, the majority presented up-to-date knowledge and assessment of risks arising from HIV transmission, along with acceptance and willingness to provide services. Healthcare professionals working for over 10 years were less concerned about contact with people living with HIV. Physicians, compared with other healthcare workers, presented less stigma and were less worried about contact with people living with HIV. Men and those who cared for more than five people with HIV also presented less discrimination against people living with HIV.

Conclusions: The majority of Polish healthcare workers who responded to the survey presented a willingness to support and provide services for people living with HIV and/or at risk of HIV. However, there is still space for improvement in education, especially among non-doctors working in healthcare settings.