SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS' APTITUDE TO FILL IN THE PROFESSIONSL ROLE OF WORKING WITH HIV/AIDS PATIENTS
The objective of this medico-social study was to evaluate the aptitude of social work students to fill in their professional role as social workers helping patients with HIV/AIDS; the respondents, both freshmen and senior students were interviewed and answered anonymous questionnaires. An analysis of the data yielded a quite high appraisal of the future social workers' aptitude. However, we revealed a number of factors that could affect their future professional work in a negative way, namely: fear of being infected, episodes of latent stigmatization. We revealed that these fears are associated with insufficient understanding of HIV/AIDS issues. It was established that the respondents drew their knowledge from mass media. We revealed a direct correlation between the length of study at the University, and the importance of such knowledge sources as monographs, conferences, lectures that can dispel the incorrect ideas thus ensuring an effective professional work with HIV/AIDS patients. The authors propose their recommendations as to optimizing the process of students' professionalization.