Abstract
This study utilized a quantitative, cross-sectional, survey design to explore the knowledge and attitudes, including stereotypes, held by graduate social work students towards People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). It specifically studied the relationship between the following two identified areas: (1) knowledge about the HIV virus, epidemic, and best-practices in working with PLWHA; and (2) personal biases towards those commonly infected. A nonprobability, purposive sample of 72 MSW II graduate students constituted the respondents of this study. Study findings indicate that respondents who were least comfortable providing HIV services endorsed higher levels of blaming PLWHA for contracting their disease, higher levels of personal bias towards HIV-positive pregnant women or parents, and AIDS phobia. Respondents who indicated that they were most comfortable providing HIV services, also expressed that they have attained a greater amount of information regarding HIV/AIDS treatments within their MSW program. T-tests for independent groups found that students who identified as religious were less comfortable delivering HIV services to clients, and endorsed higher levels of HIV stigma than students who identified as non-religious. The common types of HIV stigma that were endorsed at higher levels by respondents who identified as religious included: homophobia, transphobia, victim blame, AIDS phobia, and bias toward HIV-positive pregnant women or parents. Age emerged as a factor in the existence of bias, students over the age of 30 reported increased levels of bias towards commonly stigmatized HIV/AIDS groups than those in the 20 – 29 age range, this included homophobia, racism, and AIDS phobia. Additionally, findings indicate that students who had previously encountered an HIV-positive client at their field placement were more comfortable discussing HIV-related topics. Although majority of respondents fared well on the knowledge about HIV Transmission Quiz, detailed content about HIV/AIDS, including the HIV Treatment Quiz was poorly identified by the respondents with several unsure and incorrect answers. Recommendations include the imperative need to develop inclusive curriculum that integrates the diversity competencies required in the graduate social work program, with the competent knowledge and attitudinal requirements for helping PLWHA.