HIV stigma: Beliefs and attitudes of nursing students

Thirty-five years have passed since the HIV epidemic began and the stigma associated with the disease is still present today. This study examined the level of HIV stigma that exists among students attending a nursing school in an area with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The study also determined if the level of stigma differed between pre-licensure and post-licensure nursing students. Demographic data and responses from the Health Care Provider HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (HPASS) were collected from 234 nursing students attending a large, urban university in Long Beach, California. Results indicated that participants had an overall low to low-moderate level of HIV stigma, but a moderate level of stigma was noted on the stereotyping subscale. No significant differences were found between pre-licensure and post-licensure students. However, students who personally know or knew a person living with HIV/AIDS had a significantly lower level of stigma than those who did not