The impact of HIV/AIDS on health care provision: Perceptions on nurses currently working in one regional hospital in Namibia

Abstract

Studies on the impact of HIV/AIDS on health workers conducted in the health sector in different countries in Southern Africa have shown that health workers are affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. This has affected the provision of care rendered by nurses negatively. The high workload emanating from increased numbers of patients contributed to the situation. As a result, a number of nurses suffer from stress related illnesses caused by many factors such as fear of contracting the HIV virus. Low staff morale has also been observed among nurses. The aim of this study was to study nurses perceptions, views and suggestions on the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the provision of health care in terms of increased workload, stress, low morale and fear of contracting HIV/AIDS in two medical wards and a TB ward in one regional hospital in Namibia.