Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

International comparison of medical students' perceptions of HIV infection and AIDS.

1998; National Institutes of Health; Volume: 90; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

G. Reza Najem, E I Okuzu,

HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk

This analysis compared medical students' perceptions of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in two cities in two countries with different cultural and educational backgrounds. A total of 292 first- and second-year medical students (45% sample) were surveyed from New Jersey Medical School and from Benin Medical School, Nigeria. Compared with the Benin students, the Newark medical students were significantly more knowledgeable and had more positive attitudes and behaviors regarding HIV infection and AIDS. Misperceptions regarding certain modes of transmission of HIV were significantly higher among the Benin students than the Newark students. Compared with the Benin students, the Newark students had more frequent sexual intercourse and used condoms more frequently, but the Benin students had more sex partners. Perception of personal risk and concern of contracting AIDS was significantly higher among the Newark students than the Benin students. These results indicate it is important that medical educators in medical schools convey accurate information to improve medical students' perception regarding HIV infection and AIDS.The HIV- and AIDS-related perceptions of students from 2 medical schools in countries with divergent cultures--New Jersey Medical School (Newark, New Jersey, US) and Benin Medical School (Benin City, Nigeria)--were compared in a questionnaire-based survey. Random samples of 151 US and 141 Nigerian medical students were selected. In the Nigerian sample, 48% of respondents were women and 96% were Black; the US sample was 52% women and 15% African American. 38 questionnaire items assessed general knowledge of the transmission and epidemiology of HIV/AIDS, 15 measured attitudes, 18 related to beliefs, and 20 assessed behaviors. US medical students were significantly more knowledgeable than their Nigerian counterparts about HIV/AIDS. 26% of US and 51% of Nigerian students believed all infants born to HIV-positive mothers are infected. Significant proportions of Nigerian students thought HIV could be spread by kissing (12%), using the comb of an AIDS patient (14%), donating blood (34%), sharing bathroom facilities (11%), or by mosquito bites (16%). 13% of US and 29% of Nigerian students did not know that a healthy looking, asymptomatic HIV-infected person can transmit the virus. 24% of Nigerian and 18% of US medical students reported more than 1 sex partner in the year preceding the survey; only 11% and 30%, respectively, always used condoms, while 49% and 31%, respectively, never used this form of protection against HIV. Overall, Nigerian students showed significantly less concern than US students about HIV affecting them or their families and were less alarmed about the severity of the AIDS epidemic. It could not be determined whether this finding reflects cultural differences or deficiencies in the medical school curriculum. However, since misperceptions about HIV/AIDS may adversely affect the willingness of physicians to provide AIDS patients with high-quality care, the AIDS-related curriculum of medical schools should be reviewed.