Assessment of awareness, attitudes and perception of post exposure prophylaxis for HIV among medical students in Kampala International University July-September 2014
Loading...
Date
2014-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is still one of the leading causes of mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, medical students are relatively inexperienced and therefore at higher risk of exposure and infection. Awareness on PEP could highly reduce this risk. The main objective of the study was to assess awareness, attitudes and perception towards PEP among students in Kampala International University Western Campus. A cross sectional descriptive study design. Simple random sampling technique was used and data was collected by using Self-Assessment questionnaires regarding PEP distributed to students. The data was analyzed by SPSS version 16 software. A total of 232 students consented to participate in the study of which 218 (94%) were aware about existence of PEP, 59.2% students thought it should be used within 72hours of exposure and 64.7% thought it should be taken for a duration of 1month. Only 25.2% of the students had had a previous exposure. Also 94.5% of the students who had heard about it agreed that it was effective in controlling HIV transmission. The findings showed that on average most students are aware of the existence of PEP and believe its effective but there is need for impacting more knowledge including details on how it can be used with emphasis on when it can be initiated and for how long it should be taken
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry of in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of Kampala International University
Keywords
Post Exposure Prophylaxis, HIV/AIDS, Medical students, Kampala International University