Nursing Students’ Perception and Psychosocial Influence in Caring for People Living With Hiv/aids in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital , Sagamu Ogun State

ABSTRACT The care of people living with HIV/AIDS requires a multidisciplinary approach, and nursing students play a crucial role in providing care for this population. However, the provision of care may be influenced by various factors, including the perceptions and psychosocial factors of nursing students. This study aimed to investigate nursing students' perceptions and psychosocial factors influencing their ability to care for people living with HIV/AIDS at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital using a cross-sectional descriptive study design. A self-designed structured questionnaire was administered to nursing students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, and the responses were retrieved and analyzed. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the majority of the students had positive perceptions towards caring for these patients (91.6%), but their ability to provide appropriate care was influenced by various psychosocial factors such as their physical work environment (54.7%), access to equipment and supplies (59.4%), supportive staff and resources (56.6%), and opportunities for ongoing learning and development (50%). Recommendations were made based on the information gathered from this study to address stigma and negative attitudes towards patients living with HIV/AIDS. Encouraging nursing students to develop a non-judgmental attitude towards patients living with HIV/AIDS and other stigmatized conditions can be achieved through exposure to diverse patient populations and cultural competence training.