KAP study on reproductive health among medical freshmen:a survey of AIDS related knowledge and attitudes and their implications

Objectives: To study AIDS related knowledge and attitudes among medical freshmen, and to find out their opinions regarding the implementation of AIDS prevention and education programs in colleges and middle schools. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted in June 1997 among 266 medical freshmen in Shanghai (aged 16--23, 130 males and 136 females). Results: The results show that students have some knowledge about AIDS as a result of extensive mass media education in the recent years. But, at the same time, misunderstanding about HIV trans mission still exists. Some students still think that HIV could be transmitted through injection of vaccines (69% ), insect bites (48% ), use of public toilets (38% ) or sharing utensils (30% ). Only 67% know that using condoms can reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV. Different attitudes to AIDS patients were observed. Conclusion: The survey concludes that it is important to conduct AIDS education among first year medical students to empower them with correct information about AIDS and clarify their misunderstanding about the disease.