Knowledge Attitudes and Sexual Practices of Medical Students towards HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Introduction The centrality of behaviour change in combating HIV has been recognized since the beginning of the epidemic. One of the most widespread approaches to behaviour change used in the battle against HIV/AIDS has been information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns focused on raising awareness about the virus and the syndrome, avoiding behaviours associated with increased risk, and providing behavioural strategies for the caregivers of people with AIDS (UNAIDS, 1999a). Sexual transmission is clearly the dominant mode of transmission accounting for 75% of all cases of HIV transmission. Heterosexual transmission is globally the most common mode of HIV spread. The University of the West Indies Medical Students Association (UWlMSA) and the International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) Standing Committee on Reproductive Health including AIDS (SCORA) acknowledges that young people are central to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Research data that seeks to reveal and educate medical students and the wider community about risk factors to contracting HIV/AIDS is important to the work of UWIMSA. We aim to understand the behaviours that drive the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS amongst our young people. SCORA has always been of the belief that we need to move from information to action, to come up with effective interventions to achieve desired outcomes by changing behaviour and by increasing individuals' sense of control over their own behaviours. For information to make sense and be useful to members of the IFMSA, it must be easily integrated into our social expectations, norms, and values as well as our political and economic culture. It must be applicable to our everyday lives, and presented in a narrative form. SCORA has promoted safe sex campaigns and condom exhibitions throughout the world through IFMSA national member organizations (NMOs). We believe that we can be our own role models and hence act as role models to young people. Throughout the world behaviour change is necessary at all levels and this research paper seeks to highlight the positives and the negatives about knowledge, attitudes and sexual practices of medical students towards HIV/AIDS. Objectives 1. To determine knowledge of HIV/AIDS amongst medical students attending the International Federation of Medical Students Associa tions (IFMSA) 52nd annual march meeting in Parmi Estonia with regards to: a. Modes of Transmission b. Methods of prevention c. Causative agent of the disease 2. To determine the behaviour of students with regard to sexual practices 3. To determine the attitudes of Medical students toward people with HIV/AIDS 4. To make a comparison with the UWI study on: Knowledge and Attitudes of UWI Students Towards HIV/AIDS Materials This study was done in Parmi Estonia amongst medical students from 32 countries at the 52nd International conference of the International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) on March 2nd to 8th, 2003. The research took the form of self administered questionnaires by students from 32 countries at the conference. The sample was an incidental one given out to members of the different National member organizations (NMO). This research was previously done at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in February 200 and the data was compared to the UWI study. Results Demographics The Gender distribution The ratio was almost 1:1 Male to female as compared with the 1:2 ratio for the UWI study. Age 80.2% of the respondents were in the age range 21-24 years compared to 31.4% in the UWI study. 53.4% of the respondents in the UWI study were less than 21 years, a younger population. The age range was 18-31 years. Marital Status 86.2% of the respondents were single, 1.7% married, 0.9% divorced and 10. …