Abstract
Child care providers in a southeastern state were asked to indicate their level of stress when responding to classroom activities and childhood behaviors involving a child who tests positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). No significant correlations were found between the providers' stress responses and their professional background. Significant correlations were found between the providers' stress responses and their knowledge of HIV transmission and agreement with HIV child care policies. Follow up chi-square analysis revealed that a majority of providers reported low to slight stress when considering individual classroom activities in association with an HIV-positive (HIV+) child. Likewise, a significant majority of the providers reported low to slight stress when considering low-threat behaviors associated with an HIV+ child. In contrast, a significant majority of the providers reported moderate to great stress when considering high-threat behaviors associated with an HIV+ child. Implications of these findings are addressed for nurse educators who provide training to child care providers regarding young children who are HIV+.