Attitudes to AIDS and sexual behaviour among a cohort of medical students in Singapore

Abstract

A survey conducted in 1990 among final year medical students found that most respondents had a good knowledge about AIDS and its routes of transmission. Among the 13.7% of respondents that were sexually active, it was noted that only 35% had used the condom before and that only 20% had used it in the most recent occasion of sexual intercourse. It was noted that only 30% of the sexually active had intention using the condom when they next have sexual intercourse despite the fact that 40% of them were having sexual intercourse with causal partners. Despite having a high knowledge of AIDS, medical students at the National University of Singapore have a low use of condoms.

PIP: A study was conducted in 1990, to explore attitudes toward AIDS and sexual behavior among a cohort of final year medical students at the National University of Singapore. 181 single students of mean age 22.9 were surveyed, of whom 146 responded. 78.8% lived with parents, were raised under some degree of religious influence, and held strong views on marriage, sexuality, and premarital sex. 94.5% were aware of the 3 basic modes of HIV transmission. 13.7% of respondents were sexually active, of whom 35% had ever used a condom. Only 20% had used a condom during most recent sexual intercourse, while 30% plan to use them during next sexual intercourse. 40% of sexual relations were with casual partners and commercial sex workers. Despite this generally high level of awareness of HIV and AIDS, and the high percentage of sexual relations with casual partners, low condom use was found among these students. The authors conclude that young medical students should be more educated on sexually transmitted diseases and prevention.