Aim and Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of medical students towards patients suffering with HIV/AIDS. To determine if students felt adequately prepared to deal with medical and psychological aspects of HIVIAIDS. Methodology: the study was conducted in a questionnaire based pattern at Government Medical College, Anantapuramu, including MBBS students of all the semesters. A structured questionnaire was distributed to all the medical students of each year. The questionnaires regarding knowledge were focused on various methods of transmission, high risk behaviours and preventive measures. Attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients, sexual behaviours, condom usage, sex education and resource allocation for HIV/AIDS patients were assessed. Results: A change in the knowledge from 1st to 4th year was seen in the following aspects: knowledge regarding vertical transmission (78% to 93.3%), transmission through Breast feeding (31.9% to 85.3%), tuberculosis as the most common opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS (26.9% to 70%), correct time of initiation of PEP (5% to 46.7%), facility for getting HIV test done confidentially (0.6% to42.7%). An increasing trend in the negative attitude towards HIV patients was seen from 1st to 4th year when it came to right to refuse surgical treatment to HIV patient (40% to 56%) and an increasing trend in the favourable response towards HIV patients were seen from 1st year to 4th year when it came to their opinion whether HIV patients can be kept in general Ward (57.5% to 78%). Conclusions: From the above study we conclude that the knowledge level on HIV/AIDS improved based on year of study. Discriminatory attitude towards HIV patients still persisted among students of all the years.
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