Assessment of Knowledge related to HIV/AIDS among Medical Students

Abstract

Background: WHO estimates that approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2015,

out of which 46% were receiving antiretroviral treatment. About 77% of all pregnant women living with

HIV globally received medicines that prevent transmission to their babies in 2015. National adult (15–49

years) HIV prevalence in India is estimated at 0.26% in 2015. The total number of People Living with

HIV (PLHIV) in India is estimated at 21.17 lakhs in 2015 compared with 22.26 lakhs in 2007 out of which

Undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have the highest estimated number of PLHIV (3.95 lakhs). This

study was conducted to assess the extent of Knowledge related to HIV/AIDS among medical students in a

private medical college in South India. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study conducted among

126 second year medical students of a private medical college of south India for a period of 3 months.

After taking informed consent, information regarding Knowledge related to HIV, modes of its transmission,

prevention and socio-demographic variables were collected from them using a predesigned, pretested semi

structured questionnaire. Data was entered and analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2010 and the results

were expressed in percentages. Results: out of 126 students participated; 38.1% were males and 61.9%

were females. Correct knowledge regarding HIV transmission from mother to child through pregnancy and

breast feeding were 81.7% and 45.2% respectively. About 14.3% of the students opinioned that they will

consider suicide if they were discovered HIV positive. Conclusion: Most of the students were having basic

knowledge of HIV/AIDS although there were some misconceptions which should be corrected. There is a

need of Information, Education activities related to HIV/AIDS to increase the knowledge and awareness

among medical students.