Investigation of HIV/AIDS Knowledge Levels and Approaches to the Disease of Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Engineering Students

Abstract

Introduction: The number of HIV/AIDS patients is increasing in the world and in our country. It is thought that university students play an important role in developing social awareness necessary for the control of infectious diseases. This study aims to investigate the knowledge level of university students, determine their attitudes towards the disease, and evaluate their behavioral patterns to provide guidance for future studies, training and practices.Materials and Methods: Our research is a descriptive, cross-sectional field study. A survey including questions about HIV/AIDS trans- mission routes, disease recognition, attitudes and behaviors was prepared and delivered to the students of our university's faculty of medicine, dentistry and engineering via an online system. The survey data conducted between February 14, 2022 and April 1, 2022 was recorded and analyzed in the SPSS 25 statistical package program.Results: A total of 233 students participated in the survey, 76 from the faculty of engineering, 121 from the faculty of medicine, and 36 from the faculty of dentistry. 159 of the students are women and 73 are men. The average age was found to be 22.8 +/- 1.9 years. Between the students of the faculty of engineering and the group studying in the field of health; There was a significant difference in knowing the HIV/AIDS difference, ways of protection and disease agent (p< 0.05). In addition, questions about the ways of HIV transmission; There is a significant difference between the two groups regarding genetic transmission, use of the same forks and knives, towels, public toilets, kissing, sneezing, shaking hands, and contamination from swimming pools (p< 0.05). Knowledge that it can be transmitted through blood transfusion, using the same razor and needle, getting a tattoo, pregnancy and birth was found to be significantly lower in the faculty of engineering (p< 0.05). Additionally, 14.5% of the faculty of engineering students thought that they could be protected from HIV/AIDS by exercising regularly and 36.8% thought that they were vaccinated against HIV/AIDS (p< 0.05).To the question of whether HIV/AIDS patients pose a threat to society, 33.5% of students studying in the field of health and 34.2% of students of the faculty of engineering answered yes. The rate of those who want to learn more about HIV/AIDS is 86% in the field of health and 80.3% in the faculty of engineering.Conclusion: In our study, it was also observed that although university students had a certain level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, they had incomplete and wrong attitudes and behaviors. Necessary training on infectious diseases of public concern must cover all departments.