The knowledge about Number of students who gave correct answers (Pre test) Number of students who gave correct answers (Post test) Improvement in knowledge (%) P - value
the cause for aids 282 (94%) 297 (99%) 5% 0.0039
the ways by which HIV cannot be transmitted * 138 (46%) 252 (84%) 38% <0.0001
modes of transmission of HIV ** 126 (42%) 264 (88%) 46% <0.0001
the incubation period of HIV 249 (83%) 270 (90%) 7% 0.0165
the ability of disease to make its patients exposed to other infections 285 (95%) 300 (100%) 5% <0.0001
The ability of HIV to cause cancer 228 (76%) 264 (88%) 12% 0.0002
The absence of complete cure 282 (94%) 300 (100%) 6% <0.0001
The fact that AIDS can be prevented 276 (92%) 282 (94%) 2% 0.4240 (not significant)
The non - availability of an effective vaccine for AIDS 231 (77%) 276 (92%) 15% <0.0001
The fact that AIDS is 100% fatal 234 (78%) 252 (84%) 6% 0.0766 (not significant)
Post intervention knowledge showed a statistically significant improvement for 8 out of 10 questions.
*Those who answered correctly for 3 or more sub questions out of a total of 5 sub-questions were considered as correct responders. Sub-questions were as follows “HIV can be transmitted through a. sharing same glass with an AIDS patient b. sharing same food from one plate with an AIDS patient c. mosquito bite d. sitting near to an AIDS patient e. sharing same closet with an AIDS patient. **Those who answered correctly for 3 or more sub questions out of a total of five sub-questions were considered as correct responders. Sub-questions were as follows “HIV can be transmitted a. through sexual contact with the patient b. from mother to child through breastfeeding c. from mother to child at the time of birth d. by sharing of syringes and needles e. through transfusion of infected blood.
Those questions for which correct answer were given by more than 80% of responders were classified as excellent response, those for which correct answers were given by 60 – 80% were classified as a good response and those for which correct answers were given by 60% were classified as poor response
Table 1: Knowledge of pre medical students about HIV/AIDS.