Gender Differences in Burnout among HIV/AIDS Counselors in North India

Abstract

A notable body of research investigating the impact on health care workers who work with patients who have HIV/AIDS [(Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)] has developed over the past 30 years (Bayer & Oppenheimer, 2002; Bennett, Miller & Ross, 1995; Demi, Gueritault Chalvin & Kalichman, 2002; Lynch & Wilson, 1996; Miller, 2000). Studies have strived to identify the stressors correlated with HIV/AIDS care as well as to document the extent of burnout among health care workers (Cushman, Evans & Namerow, 1995; Miller, 1995; Oktay, 1992; Campanini, Fossati & Visintini, 1996). AIDS care has presented unprecedented challenges at different points during the epidemic for health care workers, and the supposition is that even in this era of expansive perseverance and hopefulness, health care workers may be vulnerable to burnout. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of burnout in a sample of HIV/AIDS counselors. It is hypothesised that there will be significant difference between males and females on the different dimensions of burnout. Keeping in view the predictions, it was found that there is no significant difference between males and females on the burnout scale (F = 0.095, p > 0.01).

Keywords: burnout, counselors, HIV/AIDS.