ABSTRACT
Background: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that weakensthe immune system, making the body susceptible to gracious diseases that often lead to death. The prevailing mode of HIVtransmission is through heterosexual contact, followed in magnitude by perinatal transmission, where the mother passes thevirus to the child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.Aims and Objective: This study was conducted to determine the extent of knowledge, attitude, and awareness about variousaspects of HIV/AIDS among the 1st year MBBS students studying at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna.Materials and Methods: An observational cross- sectional study was carried out among 1st year MBBS students in the agegroup of 17-24 years of regular batch in the year 2018 studying at IGIMS, Patna. All 100 1st year MBBS students were enrolledin the study. The information was collected from them using a pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire. All data werecompiled and tabulated in Microsoft Excel 2013 software, and descriptive statistics were analyzed using EPI info data analysisV7.2.0.1 in the form of percentages and proportions. P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The comparison ofthe responses among male and female students was performed using Chi-square test.Result: A total of 100 students were included in this study. Among these, 68 (68%) were boys and 32 (32%) were girls. Amongall of the study participants, majority of 97% of students have heard about HIV/AIDS. About 90% of students agreed that awoman can get HIV if she has anal sex with a man. Majority of 92% of respondents agreed that antiretroviral drugs cure HIV/AIDS. Some participants, 22%, agreed that a person can get HIV by sitting in a hot tub or a swimming pool with a personwho has HIV. About majority of 92% of students agreed that patients with HIV/AIDS need to be nursed separately from otherpatients and a pregnant woman with HIV can give the virus to her unborn baby. Media (94%) was the present leading sourceof information of participants regarding the present knowledge about HIV/AIDS.Conclusion: There is a necessity to consider the basic knowledge of the students about HIV/AIDS and accessible the misinterpretationregarding the disease by the medical educators. The knowledge about HIV/AIDS is crucial for all health-care professionals.