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Abstract
Prevention of occupational HIV transmission in the Caribbean: a survey of knowledge and attitudes concerning workplace exposure among pre-clinical medical students
A. Radix1, D. Bansal2, J. le Sueur3
Background:
The study was designed to determine the knowledge and attitudes concerning occupational HIV transmission in a cohort of Caribbean medical students.
Medical students are at increased risk for needle-stick injuries due to technical inexperience. Also, as non-employees, they may not be included in hospital-based training programs on infection control and universal precautions. Occupational risk may be higher in the Caribbean as the region has the second highest prevalence of HIV worldwide. Patients are also less likely to know their HIV status or to receive antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, not all hospitals have protocols established or available drugs for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Methods:
A 30-item questionnaire evaluating knowledge and attitudes about HIV, universal precautions, occupational exposure and PEP was distributed to 278 pre-clinical medical students at Saba University, Netherlands Antilles. Analyses were conducted to determine the demographic and other factors related to level of knowledge and attitudes.
Results:
200 (72%) students participated. Only 52% of questions were answered correctly. The majority of students overestimated transmission rates (10-30 fold higher) through needlestick injury and 30% were unaware of PEP. Respondents favored mandatory testing of healthcare workers (80%), the right of surgeons to refuse patients with HIV (59%) and testing patients without consent. Attitude scores correlated significantly with level of knowledge.
Conclusions:
The study revealed a very real threat to students’ safety due to insufficient knowledge of universal precautions and PEP. The perceived risk of occupational transmission was unrealistically high. Fear of contagion may partly explain the discriminatory views held, including the right to refuse care to PLWHAs and a high acceptance of involuntary and/or mandatory HIV testing.
Comprehensive education in universal precautions and HIV prevention should be provided by Caribbean medical schools before students start clinical clerkships. Training may also be required in biomedical ethics, especially in the legal and social aspects of HIV care and prevention.
AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
TUKC304
Suggested Citation
"A.Radix, et al.
Prevention of occupational HIV transmission in the Caribbean: a survey of knowledge and attitudes concerning workplace exposure among pre-clinical medical students.
Poster discussion:
AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
TUKC304"
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