Awareness Concerning Occupational Exposure and Post Exposure Prophylaxis due to HIV Infection Among Medical Undergraduate Students

Needle stick injury is relatively common amongst health care workers. The risk of seroconversion following needle stick injury may be reduced by knowledge of body fluids that are high risk and knowledge of post exposure prophylaxis following possible HIV contaminated needle stick injury. A structured questionnaire was used to establish knowledge regarding high HIV risk body fluids and measures to be taken following needle stick injury in a large teaching hospital. Majority of the students are aware of the general information and routes of transmission of HIV, however a significant number do not have proper knowledge about the risk of transmission, prophylaxis, duration and availability of post exposure prophylaxis drugs.