The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #53147

Yogindra Samant, MBBS; MPH, Health Source, Park Nicollet Institute, Park Nicollet Health Services, 6465 , Wayzata Blvd, Suite 315, Minneapolis, MN 55426, 952-993-1094, sama0038@umn.edu and Amitabh Tipnis, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park Avenue,mail code 865 C, Minneapolis, MN 55415.

India would soon have the highest number of HIV positive people in the world and the infrastructure that exists in the country to provide care already seems to be under tremendous stress. A major concern today are the myths and the reluctance among the medical professionals about providing care and treatment to HIV positive or terminally AIDS affected patients. A potential problem lies with the educational system which follows the British model and lacks innovation in its approach to train new medical graduates and keeping them on par with contemprary medical sciences. This study makes an attempt to find the level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS , attitudes towards infected patients and personal sexual behavior among first year medical students. The cohort was subjected to intensive HIV seminars stressing more on the social issues and myths pertaining to HIV patient care in the course of 3 years, than the medical components which is profound in the course syllabus. During the third year of medical school information was procured from the same cohort of medical students utilizing the same tool. The effectiveness of the seminars as an educational intervention is what the study assesses and has recommended an intensive HIV/AIDS education stressing on social issues pertaining to it as part of training medical professionals at the Maharashtra University Health Sciences, India.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Evaluate educational interventions for HIV/AIDS
• 2.Understand the cultural problems medical professionals encounter in developing countries when dealing with HIV/AIDS

Keywords: HIV/AIDS,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.