Knowledge and attitudes of day care center parents and care providers regarding children infected with human immunodeficiency virus

The incidence (number of new cases) of both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and AIDS is increasing in children. Children infected with HIV, the AIDS virus, often need day care. Day care centers are faced with the enrollment of HIV-infected children. The public has unfounded fears concerning the infectivity of HIV, partially due to their lack of knowledge about the virus. The knowledge and attitudes of parents whose children attend day care centers and day care providers were assessed. Questionnaires were completed by 219 parents whose children attended 4 day care centers and 176 day care providers who worked in 12 day care centers. More than 98 percent of those who answered the questionnaire knew that HIV can be transmitted through sex and contaminated needles. Eighty-four percent of the parents and 77 percent of the care providers knew that HIV can be transmitted in blood. The respondents knew that HIV can not be transmitted by holding hands, touching doorknobs and sharing sleeping mats. However, the respondents were not certain whether HIV could be transmitted by activities in which bodily fluids could be exchanged, such as biting, kissing, sharing of food and eating utensils, or through urine, stool, tears, vomit, or in diaper changing areas. The scientific data showing infectivity through blood, bodily fluids, and bodily fluids containing blood (such as oozing skin lesions) are not conclusive. Only 43 percent of the parents would allow their child to be in the same room as an HIV-infected child. Fifty-two percent of the day care providers would not take care of children with HIV infection. Further education of parents and day care providers is necessary to enhance the acceptance of children infected with HIV in day care centers and to reduce the fears that are associated with HIV transmission. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)