Intellectual disability and HIV infection: A service-related study of policies and staff attitudes

This paper reports on a study of staff knowledge and attitudes in relation to policies on HIV infection in organisations providing services to people with intellectual disabilities, Staff in three different service providers (NI-IS, Social Service and private and voluntary organisations) were sent the Staff Attitudes Towards Persons with Learning Disabilities and HN Infection Scale (LDHIVS; Murray & Minnes, 1994a). The response rate was 54%, (N = 178): 46% of respondents did not know or were unsure of policies concerning clients with HIV infection; 69% of respondents reported that these policies either did not influence their behaviour or that they were unsure if they did. Results also indicated that staff working in a direct-care capacity for the NHS held less positive attitudes towards clients with HIV infection than NHS staff working in a management capacity. The results are discussed with reference to HIV prevention, health promotion and appropriate service support for people with intellectual disabilities.