ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL-STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TRANSMISSION - COMPARISONS BY GENDER, RESIDENCE, AND TRAINING LEVEL

As the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection incre ases, health care practitioners are being called upon to counsel and e ducate patients regarding the complications associated with HIV infect ion. In addition, the anxiety levels of health care workers reveal tha t similar educational efforts must be initiated early in the training of health care professionals. In this study we surveyed 341 first and second year medical students from three medical schools to assess thei r levels of knowledge about how HIV infection is and is not transmitte d. Results were analyzed overall, by site, by gender, and by the respo ndents' locality (urban or rural). Analysis revealed that knowledge re garding HIV transmission varied dramatically among these first and sec ond year medical students. Place of residence, gender, and class rank did not appear to be factors affecting these students' knowledge. We r ecommend that caution be exercised in assuming that prospective physic ians possess current knowledge on how HIV infection is transmitted.