HIV-RELATED DISCRIMINATION - A SURVEY OF NEW-SOUTH-WALES GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS

This study aimed to investigate the correlates of human immunodeficien cy virus (HIV)-related discrimination among general practitioners. The sun ey, conducted in 1993-1994,cover;ed a random sample of 878 genera l practitioners from six of the 12 New South Wales health areas, augme nted by 44 general practitioners from the same areas who were antiretr oviral drug prescribers. The response rate was 51 per cent, and the fi nal usable sample tvas 451. Variables examined were: demographic chara cteristics, the number of HIV-infected patients, personal contact with people living with HIV or AIDS, personal contact with homosexuals, th e degree of anxiety about HIV or AIDS, and the degree of HIV-related d iscrimination, Discriminatory attitudes among general practitioners de creased as contact with HIV-infected patients (P< 0.001), other people living with HIV or AIDS (P < 0.001), and homosexuals (P < 0.001) incr eased. Anxiety? about HIV or AIDS also decreased as contact increased (P < 0.001). Higher levels of anxiety were strongly associated with hi gher levels of HIV-related discrimination (P < 0.001). The demographic correlates of discrimination among general practitioners were the sam e as those found in the wider population. The professional care of peo ple living with HIV and AIDS was concentrated among a small number of general practitioners, many of whom were homosexual, Ten general pract itioners were carrying extraordinarily high caseloads of over 200 HIV- infected patients each. Older, heterosexual and male general practitio ners are an important target for education campaigns, and the professi onal care of people li ring with HIV or AIDS should be encouraged amon g a wider group of general practitioners.