Perceptions and Attitudes Towards HIV/AIDS Patients Among General Public in Bahrain

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is a major global health problem. In Bahrain, although the prevalence of HIV is low, awareness programs are of high importance for controlling and preventing the distribution of HIV infection. The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes and risk perceptions toward HIV/AIDS in Bahrain. Results of this study will provide background knowledge to inform existing and new educational and preventiveprograms. Methodology: A self-administered questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 1038 Bahraini adults. Results: The study showed varied attitudes toward HIV/AIDS, but mostly were negative, as 60% of participants agreed to isolate HIV/AIDS patients in workplaces and schools, and 52.4% of them believed that HIV is a divine punishment. A high proportion of respondents (84.4%) believed that religion plays an important role in minimizing the spread of the disease. Conclusions: The Bahraini public negative attitudes toward HIV/AIDS was a major finding of this study. Successful control programs of HIV infection require limiting the negative attitudes toward HIV patients and the disease. Those negative attitudes found in this study need to be addressed through new and currently existing education and health awareness programs in Bahrain. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Public Attitudes, Stigmatization, Bahrai