KNOWLEDGE OF HIV STATUS AMONGST UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL LABORATORY STUDENTS

HIV is the causative agent for Acquired immune Deficiency syndrome and is known to affect a great number of people globally. There are successes in curbing the pandemic in Nigeria though a good number of people are not yet aware of their status. The aim of this study is to investigate the knowledge of HIV status and to determine its level of importance amongst undergraduate medical laboratory students. This is a cross sectional study involving 266 students (118 males, 148 females) between the ages of 15-38 years on 2nd – 5 th year. The data shows that more percentage of female students, 91.6% (131/143) know their status compared to their male counterparts, 88.2% (98/111). Positive knowledge of HIV status was noted to be highest amongst the age group of 21 to 26 years at 123(49%). Statistical analysis at P value < 0.05 is significant both for students who know their status and for those who do not know their status. Pearson's correlation with class level and age group was negative. 100% of students who had had some laboratory experience think it is important to know ones status. It is important that health practitioners see the need to be tested as this would engender personal and collective efficiency in reaching diagnosis for others. It is therefore imperative to consider that those who think it unimportant to know status may pose danger to global gains on HIV. Hence further enlightenment and training is required for students and health practitioners alike.