title: An Assessment of the Level of Awareness, Attitudes, and Opinions of the Medical Students Concerning HIV and AIDS in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human Immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become one of the most serious health problems in the world. Medical students awareness, attitudes and opinions must be assessed as they are leading health care professionals who provide treatment and care to the HIV and AIDS individuals. This survey was conducted to assess the level of awareness, attitudes and opinions of third year till fifth year medical students concerning HIV and AIDS from universities around Klang Valley area, Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 327 medical students of third to fifth been took part in the survey. Self prepared and self validated questionnaire was used to assess the study outcomes. Students were asked to fill the consent forms before filling the questionnaires. The results were analyzed by using SPSS version 17. A cross-sectional study among medical students was performed. Data was analyzed with non-parametric spearman's correlation test to find the difference at p-value < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A great majority knew that HIV can be spread via tattoo or body piercing (89.3%), from mother to child (97.9%), being a homosexual (93.3%) and even having circumcision for protection (71.9%). Also, they were aware that HIV cannot be transferred via sneezing and cough (95.1%), swimming pools (89.0%), and toilet seats (89.6%). However, only a few were aware of other modes of transmission, such as visiting the barbers (41.3%) , and having blood splashed on outer body surface including mouth and eyes (49.2%). Only a few negative attitudes were shown such as being unsure about keeping close vicinity to HIV patients and being unsure of whether HIV negative people should be allowed to marry HIV positive patients (median=3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An optimal plan of education with awareness campaign and preclinical experiences should be made in the future curriculum to increase the knowledge, confidence and minimize phobia among students.
authors: Faculty, Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University , 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .
authors: Rohit Kumar
authors: RK
authors: Verma
authors: Faculty, Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University , 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .
authors: Shirley
authors: S
authors: Wong
authors: Faculty, Department of Pathology, International Medical University , 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .
authors: Srikumar
authors: S
authors: Chakravarthi
authors: Faculty, Department of Community Medicine, International Medical University , 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .
authors: Ankur
authors: A
authors: Barua
keywords: Cross-sectional study; Prevention; Transmission