Knowledge of students regarding hepatitis and HIV/AIDS of a private medical university in Karachi

To determine and assess the level of awareness among students of a private medical college regarding HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C. A survey was conducted to assess the awareness of medical students on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C. They were asked to fulfill a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The variables accessed were their knowledge of disease regarding etiology, mode of transmission, and prevention. A total of 267 students participated, with 117 [43.8%] students from pre-clinical years and 150 [56.2%] from the clinical years. The male female ratio was 1:2, mean age of respondents was 21 + 1.5 years. Majority of the students [98%] agreed that an infected person is a major source of transmitting these infections. Almost all [95%] students knew that blood transfusion was an important source of transmitting these infections. Wearing gloves [87%] and safe disposal of sharps waste [98%] were known by the students to be the ways to protect against these infections. A significant difference was noted on comparing the knowledge between preclinical and clinical students regarding medical / surgical procedures causing these infections [p<0.001] and also regarding the ways to protect against these diseases [p=0.001]. There is a lack of awareness among the medical students entering into the profession. It is the need of the hour to emphasize on practicing universal precautions. In addition, some preventive measures should be taken by the management of the universities and medical students to avoid the occurrence of these problems

Improving vaccination status of children under five through health education

To improve awareness and knowledge of mothers regarding vaccine preventable diseases and the immunization status of children under five through health education messages by medical students, at Gulshan-e-Sikanderabad, a squatter settlement adjacent to Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi. The undergraduate medical students' visit families in the squatter settlement. This study compared the effect of intervention by medical students on vaccination status of children under five in the intervention households versus those without intervention. A baseline study was done in 1998 and a follow-up study was done after four years to assess the differences in knowledge and practices of mothers regarding immunization. A total of 110 houses from block I and 207 houses from block V were selected. An increase of 22% [52% vs 30%] in block-I [p=0.003] and 19% [32% vs 13%] increase in block V was seen in the utilization of PHC Center for vaccination [p=0.001]. Mothers' knowledge regarding the age when first vaccine is administered to the child, increased in the follow-up from 60% to 76.5% [p<0.01] in block I and from 50% to 62% in block V. The immunization status increased significantly in block I from 46.5% to 75% after the intervention [p<0.005], no significant difference could be seen in block V [p=0.16]. In the follow-up survey a significant difference was seen in the vaccination status between the two blocks [p=0.001]. The health education messages significantly increased the vaccination status of children under 5 in the intervention area