A longitudinal study of the persence of gastrointestinal tract parasitic infections in children of St. Kitts over the 15-year period, 1982-1997

When 188 (1962), 266 (1991) and 222 (1997) five and nine year old children in St. Kitts were assessed for the presence of parasitic infections, there were significant reductions in the prevalence of trichurias from 83 percent through 58 percent to 27 percent, of ascariasis from 24 percent through 8.6 percent to 0.9 percent and of giardiasis from 15 percent through 9.4 percent to 5 percent, respectively; over the 15 year period. Anthelminthic use, which appeared to be the most important responsible intervention tool, remained roughly at the same level at 59-51 percent. However, the types of anthelminthics used changed over the period. Piperazine citrate, which was used by 66 percent in 1982, had only 35 percent usage in 1991 and 11.3 percent in 1197. Albendazole, which was not used at all in 1982, was taken by 32 percent of the children in 1991 and 45.9 percent in 1997, and at the same time use of laevo-tetramisole increase by 20 percent in 1991 from 14 percent in 1982, to 42.9 percent in 1997. Details are given of a proposed island-wide parasitic infection with the assistance of identified private and public sector partners.(AU)

Attitudes of medical students toward the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Several studies have reported negative attitudes toward AIDS patients, homosexuals and drug abusers among physicians, nurses, and health workers in training. To examine attitudes towards AIDS of a group who in the near future would be practising physicians in the Caribbean, medical students at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards AIDS. This paper analyses responses to 21 attitude items with reference to five primary areas related to AIDS: testing for HIV, homosexuality, fear of contagion, comfort in interacting with AIDS patients, and intention to care for persons with AIDS. The analysis indicates that these students were not all comfortable with issues related to homosexuality, and there was wide variation and some inconsistency in opinions regarding controversial and contentious issues. Most of these students, regardless of their choice of speciality after graduation will eventually come into contact with an HIV-positive individual or an AIDS patient. There is a distinct possibility that biases and misperceptions held during the period of training are at great risk of being carried over into clinical practice, resulting in unwillingness, or even refusal, to treat certain types of patients. What has also become evident is that emphasis should be placed on ethical and attitudinal training within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. Our future doctors have to be trained to effectively manage the many psycho-social, ethical, and legal problems that will be generated by the AIDS epidemic. What is urgently needed, therefore, is relevant curriculum design and development in the area of AIDS education directed at the region's future physicians (AU)

Attitudes of medical students toward the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Several studies have reported negative attitudes toward AIDS patients, homosexuals and drug abusers among physicians, nurses, and health workers in training. To examine attitudes towards AIDS of a group who in the near future would be practising physicians in the Caribbean, medical students at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards AIDS. This paper analyses responses to 21 attitude items with reference to five primary areas related to AIDS: testing for HIV, homosexuality, fear of contagion, comfort in interacting with AIDS patients, and intention to care for persons with AIDS. The analysis indicates that these students were not all comfortable with issues related to homosexuality, and there was wide variation and some inconsistency in opinions regarding controversial and contentious issues. Most of these students, regardless of their choice of speciality after graduation will eventually come into contact with an HIV-positive individual or an AIDS patient. There is a distinct possibility that biases and misperceptions held during the period of training are at great risk of being carried over into clinical practice, resulting in unwillingness, or even refusal, to treat certain types of patients. What has also become evident is that emphasis should be placed on ethical and attitudinal training within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. Our future doctors have to be trained to effectively manage the many psycho-social, ethical, and legal problems that will be generated by the AIDS epidemic. What is urgently needed, therefore, is relevant curriculum design and development in the area of AIDS education directed at the region's future physicians

Attitudes of medical students at Cave Hill Campus towards AIDS - abstract

Several studies have reported negative attitudes towards AIDS patients, homosexuals and drug abusers among physicians, nurses and those being trained as various categories of health care workers. To further examine these findings, medical students at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards AIDS. This paper analyses responses to 21 attitude items with reference to five primary areas related to AIDS, namely; testing for HIV, homosexuality, fear of contagion, comfort in interacting with AIDS patients and intention to care for persons with AIDS. The analysis indicates that the students were all uncomfortable with sexual issues and there was wide variation and some inconsistency in opinions regarding controversial and contentious issues. Most of the students, regardless of their choice of specialty after graduating, will eventually come into contact with an HIV-positive individual or an AIDS patient. There is a distinct possibility that biases and misperceptions held during the period of training, are likely to be carried over into clinical practice, resulting in unwillingness or even refusal to treat certain types of patients. Today's medical educators are challenged not only to provide students with the factual scientific and medical information known about AIDS, but also to instill in them the professional and ethical responsibilities of being physicians who must transcend the fears and irrationalities generated by the AIDS pandemic, using their knowledge in the patient's best interests, regardless of their own visceral reactions to the patient (AU)