Knowledge about HIV and Stigmatizing Attitudes of Medical Students in Saudi Arabia Towards Patients with HIV/AIDS: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Study


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Abstract

Background:The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the social stigma directed toward patients with HIV are serious public health issues. We aimed to evaluate the HIV knowledge base and stigmatizing attitudes toward patients with HIV among students enrolled in medical schools in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:This cross-sectional study included students at medical colleges in Saudi Arabia and was conducted between February and March 2023. We used non-random convenience sampling with an online chain referral via a validated Arabic questionnaire composed of 35 questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics.

Results:A total of 1,213 medical students (women: 56.6%) participated in the study. Students in clinical years had a higher level of HIV knowledge than their pre-clinical colleagues. Logistic regression analysis revealed that participants who gave incorrect answers to questions related to mother-to-child and casual contact HIV transmission had a higher likelihood of harboring a negative attitude towards patients with HIV. Conversely, those who correctly answered queries on prevention and treatment were less likely to have stigmatizing attitudes. A significant proportion of this cohort harbored negative attitudes toward patients with HIV, with the sex and geographic location of participants being significant predictors of negative attitudes.

Conclusion:Our data have revealed a significant percentage of medical students in Saudi Arabia to have misconceptions about HIV transmission and prevention, and stigmatizing attitudes toward patients with HIV, indicating a need for targeted interventions to enhance the HIV knowledge base in this population of future caregivers.

About the authors

Ehab Hakami

Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Abdulaziz Alghamdi

College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Zahraa Ali Alwayel

, Ministry of Health

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Fatimah Hakami

Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Muhjah Almurakshi

Faculty of Medicine, Umm al-Qura University

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Ohoud Alghamdi

Department of Preventive Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Manar Ghazzawi

Faculty of Medicine, Umm al-Qura University

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Abdulaziz Alhazmi

Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University

Author for correspondence.
Email: info@benthamscience.net

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