A survey of physicians in Jamaica was conducted between March and September, 1993 in order to estimate the level of reporting of HIV and AIDS. A questionnaire was delivered to nearly all of approximately 1,200 physicians practising in Jamaica. Completed questionnaires were received from 418, a response rate of 35%. Of the physicians responding, 46% were in private practice only, 22% in the public sector only and 32% in both. Two-thirds (66%) of the physicians in private practice had not diagnosed a case of AIDS and 65% had not had a patient with a positive HIV test result. Half (54%) of the private physicians had reported all their AIDS cases, 8% had reported some and 38% (45 doctors) had reported none. The main reasons for not reporting were: "thought someone else had reported" (15 doctors), concern for confidentiality (11) and not knowing where to report (8). Only 9% of private practitioners were currently seeing an AIDS patient and 12% were seeing an HIV-infected person. Of physicians with current AIDS patients 16% preferred not to report, 21% intended to report and 63% had reported. Nearly one-third (29%) of private practitioners expressed reservations about treating persons with HIV/AIDS. Most (75%) public sector physicians had seen one or more AIDS patients. Sixty-four per cent of these physicians said that all of their AIDS cases were reported, 4% said some, 4% said none and 28% didn't know. Reporting of AIDS cases is better in the public sector than among private physicians.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
PIP: Almost all of the approximately 1200 physicians practicing in Jamaica were surveyed between March and September 1993 in a study to estimate the level of reporting of HIV and AIDS. Completed questionnaires were received from 418. Of these, 46% were in private practice only, 22% in the public sector only, and 32% in both. 66% of physicians in private practice had not diagnosed a case of AIDS and 65% had not had a patient with a positive HIV test result. 54% of the private physicians had reported all their AIDS cases, 8% had reported some, and 38% had reported none. The main reasons for not reporting were the belief among 15 doctors that someone else had reported, concern for confidentiality among 11 doctors, and not knowing where to report among eight. 9% of private practitioners were currently seeing an AIDS patient and 12% were seeing an HIV-infected person. Of physicians with current AIDS patients, 16% preferred not to report, 21% intended to report, and 63% had reported. 75% of public sector physicians had seen one or more AIDS patients. 64% of these physicians said that all of their AIDS cases were reported, 4% said some, 4% said none, and 28% did not know. The reporting of AIDS cases is therefore better in the public sector than among private practitioners. The authors believe that it is likely that some, if not many, of the AIDS cases not reported by private physicians are reported when admitted to hospital. They further note their inability to estimate the exact level of underreporting of AIDS in Jamaica on the basis of their survey. 29% of private practitioners expressed reservations about treating persons with HIV/AIDS. Efforts need to be undertaken to address these reservations and convince health practitioners of the need to report HIV/AIDS cases in a timely manner.