KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ASSESSMENT OF QUEBEC DAY-CARE WORKERS AND PARENTS REGARDING HIV AIDS AND HEPATITIS-B/

Issues: Cases of discrimination occur in Quebec daycares towards HIV-p ositive children as well as HIV-negative children born to seropositive parents. Objectives: Offer three-hour information sessions on bloodbo rne diseases, specifically HIV and hepatitis B, universal precautions, as well as legal, ethical and psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS to: 1) ensure that daycare workers have basic medical information on transmi ssion of HIV and other bloodborne infections, 2) review basic hygiene including universal precautions, 3) link daycares to HIV/AIDS resource s in their communities, and 4) facilitate the development of pro-activ e daycare policies for the integration of HIV-positive children. Resul ts: In total, 108 information sessions were given, in which 349 daycar es participated. Results show an important difference in terms of know ledge and attitudes of the participants. Of the daycares which partici pated in the information sessions, 37% have developed their own pro-ac tive policy.