KNOWLEDGE OF HIV/AIDS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN EASTERN INDIA-A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective- To evaluate the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Eastern India.

Materials and Methods- Open level, cross sectional, observational and unicentric clinical trial was done among medical students of College of Medicine & JNM Hospital, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. All the students (201) who were attending their scheduled lecture classes were given the questionnaire form, and all queries about the trial/questions were explained thoroughly. The form was filled up by each student separately, references like books, internet etc were not allowed. Forms submission box was placed in the table of lecture theatre. After 15 minutes, and students were asked to submit their forms in that box individually. Filled up forms were collected from the all attending students of all semester batch in the same day. Statiscal analysis was done in Department of Pharmacology.

 

Result & Analysis-100% students have heard the terms HIV, AIDS, STD. Female students know better than male students about the differences between HIV and AIDS, sign and symptoms of HIV. Although there is no difference about knowledge of mode of transmission of HIV, but female students are more awarded the vertical transmission from mother to child (p-0.006).Female students know better than male students about precaution to protect health worker dealing with an AIDS patient (p-0.0001).

 

Conclusion- Although, majority of students have the basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS, but periodical academic activities (Seminars, CME etc) are required to upgrade the informations about HIV/AIDS.