AIDS Knowledge, Occupational Precautions, and Public Education Activities among Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders

Abstract

A survey on AIDS was administered within a large, southern California jurisdiction to law enforcement officers and first responders (paramedics, firefighters). Respondents had accurate knowledge about AIDS but several incorrect perceptions about HIV transmission; a substantial proportion believed that HIV could be contracted from casual contact. AIDS training was not frequent. Self-assessment of HIV risk was medium to high risk in one-third of respondents, and was largely attributable to fear of occupational exposure. Appropriate precautionary professional practices were adopted at low frequencies, with respondents adopting preventive measures less than 50% of the time on 7 of 10 measures. Seventeen percent reportedly received requests for HIV/AIDS education from members of the public, which is incongruous with law enforcement officers' and first responders' demonstrated level of knowledge about HIV transmission. It was concluded that improved educational programs on HIV/AIDS are needed for law enforcement officers and first responders to increase the use of occupational precautions in the field, and to improve the accuracy of public AIDS education activities conducted by these professionals.

Risk factors for potential occupational exposure to HIV: A study of correctional officers

“…A small number of studies existed on the risk of HIV to police officers (Gellert, Maxwell, Higgins, Barnard, & Page, 1994;Sonder et al, 2005). Estimated occupational exposure data originated from the agencies themselves or emergency rooms.…”

“…Estimated occupational exposure data originated from the agencies themselves or emergency rooms. Between 1989 and 1993 in Orange County, California 567 law enforcement officers and first responders reported being exposed to HIV while at work (Gellert et al, 1994). In another study of emergency room visits between 1995 and 2001, the most common non-health care workers who visited an emergency room for an HIV exposure at work were police, correctional officers, and security guards-most often for a human bite .…”

“…Only four studies could be located regarding the use of PPEs in criminal justice settings. One study reported the use of latex gloves of Texas correctional officers (McIntyre et al, 1999), two examined the use of PPEs by nurses working in Maryland prisons (Gershon et al, 1999;Green-McKenzie, Gershon, & Karkashian, 2001), and one study researched police officers (Gellert et al, 1994). Correctional officers who perceived higher risk used disposable gloves more often than officers who perceived less risk (McIntyre et al, 1999).…”

“…Police officers reported the consistent use of disposable gloves and/or changing torn gloves. About 42 percent of first responders used a special one-way face shield or airshield to perform CPR (Gellert et al, 1994). The least used personal protective equipment for both prison nurses and police officers was goggles and masks (Gellert et al, 1994;Gershon et al, 1999;Green-McKenzie et al, 2001).…”

“…Managing inmates at minimum custody was hypothesized to be less risky than those at maximum security who are potentially more assaultive. Previous occupational exposure events influenced officers who believed their chance of acquiring HIV was medium to high (Gellert et al, 1994). As correctional officers became more experienced, perception of personal risk and/or fear of working with AIDS infected inmates decreased (Dillon & Allwright, 2005;Mahaffey & Marcus, 1995;McKee et al, 1995).…”