HIV/AIDS and care provider attributions: Who's to blame?

Tlie discovery of HIV/AIDS prompted a profusion of research focusing on the disease and its causes. Though the bulk of this research emphasizes behavioural risk factors, treatment and disease progression, researcher efforts are beginning to examine the public's attitude toward individuals who a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS care 2002-08, Vol.14 (4), p.545-548
Main Authors: Cobb, M., de Chabert, J. T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
AIDS/HIV
Analysis of Variance
Anger
At risk
Attitude of Health Personnel
Attitude to Health
Biological and medical sciences
Blame
Causal attributions
Female
Health risk assessment
HIV
HIV Infections - psychology
Human immunodeficiency virus
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Patients
Providers
Public Opinion
Risk Factors
Social Responsibility
Social services
Stereotyping
Studies
USA
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
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Summary:Tlie discovery of HIV/AIDS prompted a profusion of research focusing on the disease and its causes. Though the bulk of this research emphasizes behavioural risk factors, treatment and disease progression, researcher efforts are beginning to examine the public's attitude toward individuals who are HIV-positive or have developed AIDS. Utilizing Weiner's Attribution Theory, the current study examines the beliefs of social service providers who work directly with individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Forty-six (28 female and 18 male) HIV/AIDS social service providers from three community-based organizations were asked to read a hypothetical scenario depicting an individual at-risk for HIV/AIDS because of multiple high-risk behaviours. Tlie gender of the target was manipulated and at the conclusion of the scenario participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess attributions. Results of the study show that social service providers who perceive individuals as more responsible for their illness report increased anger, attribute more blame and express less willingness to help those at-risk for HIV/AIDS. This research suggests that despite growing numbers of media campaigns and national distribution of information regarding the disease and its transmission, in general, people continue to stigmatize and place blame on those at-risk.
ISSN:0954-0121
1360-0451
DOI:10.1080/09540120208629672