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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Adriana Zumarán, BA, Camila Gianella, BA, MSc, Manuel Ugarte, MD, Lorena Cano, César Ugarte, MD, Renzo Sotomayor, MD, Miriam Egúsquiza, Ursula Baertl, BA, MSc, Juan José Miranda, BA, and J. Jaime Miranda, MD, MSc. Edhucasalud – Civil Association for Health and Human Rights Education, Calle Loma Verde 383, Lima 33, Peru, +51 1 3498545, adriana.zumaran@edhucasalud.org

Background: Human rights has not been relevant to the training of health professionals in Peru. Little is known about students' interest in human rights issues.

Methods: A survey was conducted in 2001 among first and last-year students from medicine, nursing, midwifery and psychology careers, from 5 different universities in Peru. The survey examined perceptions about their current training and its relation to human rights; and knowledge of human rights based on a 35-item scale. Descriptive statistics were calculated and, where possible, comparisons were made between first and last-year student's responses.

Results: 453 students (average age 20.7 years) participated in the survey. 62.3%, 22.7%, 9.1% and 6% were from medical, nursing students, midwifery and psychology careers, respectively. When asked about expectations from their training, 26.2% answered as their first option to develop a strong ethical basis and 1.9% to obtain knowledge about the rights of people. The most important aspect of a health professional's training was professional ethics (34.4%), whereas understanding of the social and cultural context ranked fifth (9.5%). There were no statistically significant differences between first and last-year students. The knowledge scale had an average 23.3 correct answers (22.7 for first year vs. 24.8 for last year students, p<0.001)

Conclusions: Health professional students do not perceive human rights as a priority in their training in contrast with ethical aspects that are given priority. More work should be done in order to clarify the differences between ethics and human rights leveling basic health professional education.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify perceptions of health professional students towards health and human rights training
• List items of a knowledge scale on health and human rights
• Identify challenges and opportunities for future training of health professionals, addressing the concepts of ethics and human rights

Keywords: Human Rights, Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation