Study of students’ perceptions regarding knowledge and attitude towards torture

Background: Torture and violence are associated with humans since beginning. Torture is one of the most extreme forms of human violence, resulting in both physical and psychological consequences. Materials and methods: Present study was conducted among total 113 students of 2nd MBBS after obtaining their informed written consent. All student participants were subjected to pre-tested and pre-validated questionnaire regarding torture which contained total 13 multiple choice type questions, out of which 8 questions were related to knowledge while 5 questions were related to attitude. Results: Age of participants was varied from 19 to 22 years with a mean of 21.25 years with male: female ratio of participants was 5.5:1. Among knowledge questions, 88% had given correct answer of meaning of term torture, 56% had given correct objectives of torture, 66% had given correct types of torture, 73% had given correct answer of commonest form of physical torture, 61% had given correct answer of commonest form of sexual torture, 59% had given correct answer of commonest form of psychological torture, 52% had given correct answer regarding laws related to torture and 79% had given correct role of National Human Right Commission in torture. Among attitude questions, 43% had agreed that beating in police custody to elicit confession is proper while 42% were undetermined, 88% had agreed that awareness of torture medicine by general medical practitioner is required, 79% had agreed that inclusion of torture medicine in undergraduate medical curriculum is required, 61% had agreed that teaching is torture medicine to paramedical branches is required and 69% had agreed that punishment of torture should be increased. Conclusion: Knowledge and attitude regarding torture among medical students give an idea for future planning of curriculum for betterment of subject.