[Teaching and including HIV/AIDS in the curricula of a medical school sample in Mexico].
BACKGROUND
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is apublic health problem that has had an impact on all health systems around the world. Mexico is no exception. Although it has been acknowledged that we have a concentrated epidemic, the problem continues to grow.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate if the medical school curricula in Mexico included the topic of HIV/AIDS and to assess the level of knowledge medical students have about this disease.


METHODS
Descriptive study of eight medical schools interviewing pre-graduate medical students.


RESULTS
Only 15% of the curricula of private medical schools and 21.7% of public schools included the subject of HIV/AIDS. Although it is difficult to standardize this finding, an average of 8.8 hours was assigned to the study of HIV/AIDS. 90% of the professors involved in teaching the topic of HIV/AlDS hadno clinical experience in thefield


CONCLUSIONS
HIV/AIDS is a low priority subject in our medical school curricula. Efforts must be placed to standardize and reinforce this highly important topic.
Izazola-Licea
José Antonio
JA
Programa Conjunto de las Naciones Unidas contra el SIDA, Ginebra, Suiza, México. izazola@unaids.org
Volkow-Fernández
Patricia
P
Sierra-Madero
Juan
J
Avila-Figueroa
Carlos
C
Herrera-Basto
Emilio Antonio
EA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D015658:HIV Infections; D008800:Mexico; D012577:Schools, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires