HIV Stigma among Clinical Medical Students in East Java, Indonesia

Background: HIV‑related stigma is considered as major barrier for controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) that experienced stigma were less likely to disclose their HIV status to their sexual partners and health care professionals. Medical students as the future physicians are expected to be at the forefront to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. This study aims to explore the stigmatized attitude and practices towards HIV/AIDS patients among medical students in East Java, Indonesia. Material and Method: Observational study was conducted at one of the faculty of medicine in public university in East Java, Indonesia. Respondents of this study was last year clinical medical students. Instrument used in this study was self‑administered questionnaire that assess medical students attitudes and practices towards PLWHA. Results: Most respondents empathize PLWHA patients equally with non‑PLWHA. Forty percent of the respondents agreed that PLWHA needs to be separated from non‑PLWHA in health care services. Around 39% of the respondents think that PHLWA should not become a healthcare worker and Eighty two percent of the respondents did inform their friends if there was a PLWHA patient to be cautious. More than half of the respondents used unnecessary protection when examining PLWHA patients. Conclusion: HIV‑related stigma among clinical medical students in East Java was still exist, in both attitudes and practices. Medical schools should consider developing a teaching method that improves their students attitudes and behaviors towards PLWHA patients.