Attitudes of Undergraduate Medical and Non-Medical Students towards Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Abstract

Aim of the study: To assess the personal attitudes of undergraduate medical and non-medical students towards HIV/AIDS and to determine the effect of the curriculum applied in the colleges of medicine regarding HIV/AIDS on the attitudes of medical students towards those affected by HIV/AIDS compared with that of non-medical.Methods: Questionnaire survey using structured, self-administered questionnaire consisted of 15 closed-ended questions concerning personal attitudes towards HIV/AIDS was distributed to 400 undergraduate students from Colleges of Medicine, Science and Arts in Al-Mustansirya University during the period from the 1st of October 2004 through May 2005 Results: The study showed that 38.5% of medical and 50.5% of non medical students had poor, and 32.5% of medical and 29.5% of non medical students had fair, and 29% of medical and 20% of non medical students had good attitudes scores. There was significant association between attitudes scores and the category of students. (χ2 = 6.832, p=0.033). Conclusion: A high percentage of students showed negative attitudes towards those affected by HIV/AIDS that was based mainly on a misconceptions and fears which have no scientific justification ,and the AIDS-related information provided by the curriculum applied in the colleges of medicine regarding HIV/AIDS did not cover all HIV/AIDS scope, and did not correct the existing misconceptions among medical students ,therefore no clear impact was reflected on their personal attitudes towards those affected by HIV/AIDS.Keywords: Students, attitudes towards HIV/AIDS.