AIDS and the minority health care worker

Abstract

1. Large groups of health care workers, many of whom are among ethnic minorities with potential for occupational exposure to HIV/HBV, are generally underserved in training on prevention of occupational transmission of the viruses. 2. The inadequacy of training for indirect client care personnel appears to be one of the primary reasons for high rates of needlestick injuries and exposure to blood. 3. Training in appropriate infection control techniques can help reduce the uneasiness and fear among health care workers over occupationally-related HIV/HBV transmission.