A Cross-Sectional Study on Knowledge about Swine Flu among First-Year MBBS Students in Mamata Medical College, Khammam

Introduction: An outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu virus, in march 2009, spread rapidly through the world, leading to the declaration of an influenza pandemic by WHO on 11th June 2009. Objective: To assess the knowledge about swine flu among first-year MBBS students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among first-year MBBS students of Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Telangana, during April 2015. Data were collected by using pilot-tested, self-administered questionnaire and results were analyzed by using SPSS version 19. Results: Majority 110 (96.5%) of the students are having correct knowledge regarding symptoms of swine flu. Around 58 (50.9%) students are having knowledge regarding spread/ mode of transmission of swine flu. Majority 74 (64.9%) of the students are having knowledge regarding availability of medication for swine flu. Conclusion: The awareness regarding H1N1 infection was adequate among the students who participated in this study and this can be attributed to the immediate training given to these students as well as to the mass media campaign which is important in epidemic situations to avoid its spread and complication.