Knowledge and attitudes of non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis amongst first- and second year medical students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa
| dc.contributor.author | Ncube, Nondumiso, B.Q. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Meintjes, Willem A.J. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Chola, Lumbwe | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2015-03-12T10:10:33Z | en_ZA |
| dc.date.available | 2015-03-12T10:10:33Z | en_ZA |
| dc.date.issued | 2014-11 | en_ZA |
| dc.description | CITATION: Ncube, N. B. Q., Meintjes, W. A. J. & Chola, L. 2014. Knowledge and attitudes of non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis amongst first- and second year medical students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 6(1): 1-9, doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v6i1.665. | en_ZA |
| dc.description | The original publication is available at http://www.phcfm.org | en_ZA |
| dc.description | Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a worldwide problem, with 68% of infected people residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Antiretroviral therapy is used as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent infection in cases of occupational exposure, and use has recently been expanded to nonoccupational exposure. Studies have demonstrated a lack of awareness of non-occupational PEP (NOPEP) in the general population. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge and attitudes towards availability of, access to and use of NO-PEP amongst first- and second-year medical students. Setting: Participants were medical undergraduates of Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape of South Africa who were registered in 2013. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 169 students was performed. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires handed out in a classroom in August 2013. Self-reported knowledge and attitudes towards NO-PEP and barriers to access to and use of NO-PEP were analysed using frequency tables. Associations between self-reported and objective knowledge of NO-PEP were analysed by odds ratios. Results: Over 90% of students had good knowledge on HIV transmission, and about 75% knew how it can be prevented. Twenty eight per cent (n = 47) of students reported knowledge of NO-PEP; 67% reported hearing about it from lecturers, whilst 1% reported hearing about it from their partner. Students who knew the correct procedure to take when a dose is forgotten were 2.4 times more likely to report knowledge of NO-PEP than those who did not know what to do when a dose is forgotten (p = 0.029). No other associations were statistically significant. Conclusion: Students had positive attitudes towards the use of NO-PEP and also identified barriers to its use. Despite good knowledge of HIV prevention and transmission, knowledge on NO-PEP was poor. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.uri | http://www.phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/665 | en_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Publishers version | en_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 9 pages ; illustrations | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Ncube, N. B. Q., Meintjes, W. A. J. & Chola, L. 2014. Knowledge and attitudes of non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis amongst first- and second year medical students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 6(1): 1-9, doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v6i1.665 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2071-2936 (online) | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2071-2928 (print) | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.other | doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v6i1.665 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/96278 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | AOSIS Publishing | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Authors retain copyright | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | HIV (Viruses) -- Prevention | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Post-exposure prophylaxis | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Medical students -- Attitudes -- Cape Town (South Africa) | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Knowledge and attitudes of non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis amongst first- and second year medical students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Article | en |