AIDS fears and homophobia among rural nursing personnel.

Attitudes and concerns about AIDS of 144 nursing personnel attending conferences on AIDS in rural central Pennsylvania were assessed. Participants were knowledgeable about AIDS but wished to learn more and wanted additional training. Most were moderately worried about contracting AIDS, and a sizeable percentage showed irrational fears. AIDS fears centered around fear of casual-contact transmission and transmission through intimate contact. Participants held generally negative views of gay men and lesbians, and few had personal knowledge of gay people. Homophobic attitudes correlated significantly with AIDS phobias, suggesting that feelings about gay men may influence the nature of medical care that AIDS patients who are gay might receive.