From Resistances to Rewards: Social Worked Experiences and Attitudes toward AIDS

Abstract

As the incidence of HIV/AIDS increases, in-service training and professional education must prepare human service professionals to work with this growing population. A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 500 members of the local division of the National Association of Social Workers in an East Coast urban city. Three-hundred and fifty-three usable questionnaires were returned. The study investigated members' attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with HIV/AIDS. Although many attitudes, especially those concerning homosexuals, were relatively positive, negative beliefs about intravenous drug users and fears about dealing with issues surrounding death raise concern. For those respondents who had experience with clients with HIV/AIDS, “dealing with young people who are dying” was reported as their greatest difficulty and “opportunity for personal growth” as their greatest reward. Implications for in-service training and social work education are discussed.