Abstract

Introduction: HIV/AIDS remains a significant global health challenge, with stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) persisting despite medical advances. Nurses play a crucial role in HIV care, but their attitudes can impact the quality of care. Assessing nursing students’ attitudes toward PLWHA is vital, as these future healthcare providers’ perceptions influence compassionate care delivery. This study evaluated nursing students’ attitudes using the Nurses’ Attitude about HIV/AIDS Scale-Version 2 and examined associations with socio-demographic factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 undergraduate nursing students at Mamata Nursing College from November 2024 to March 2025. Participants completed a structured questionnaire including sociodemographic data and the attitude scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to assess relationships between attitudes and demographics. Ethical approval was obtained, and participation was voluntary. Results: The sample was predominantly female (94.2%) with a mean age of 19.37 years. Most students showed generally positive attitudes toward PLWHA, with some exhibiting moderate attitudes. Chi-square analyses found no significant associations between attitudes and socio-demographic variables, except a nearsignificant trend related to education level (p = 0.054), with third-year students showing slightly more moderate attitudes. Conclusion: Nursing students generally hold positive attitudes toward PLWHA, but education level may influence perceptions. Findings suggest that demographic factors alone do not predict attitudes, highlighting the need for curriculum enhancements focusing on experiential learning, stigma reduction, and empathy training to foster compassionate care for PLWHA.

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