Narjes Bahri - Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
Zahra Khaksarian - Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.
Nasim Khajavian - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Alireza Mohammadzadeh - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESOne of the most important ways of transmitting acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is vertical transmission or mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). The medical and midwifery students are also among the health care workers (HCWs) who interact very closely with the pregnant women during the parturition process. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the educational needs of medical and midwifery students of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences on the prevention of mother-to-child AIDS transmission.MATERIALS AND METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۱۹ on ۱۲۰ medical (extern and intern) and midwifery (semester ۴ and above of bachelor and master) students of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences. Participants completed three questionnaires of demographic variables, the perceived needs questionnaire on MTCT, and the real needs questionnaire on MTCT of AIDS. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version ۲۳ and ۰.۰۵ was considered as a significant level.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe majority of participants were female (۷۷.۵%) and single (۶۵%). In this study, ۴۸.۳% and ۵۱.۷% were medical and midwifery student, respectively. Sixty-three and a half percent of medical student and ۳۶.۵% midwifery student had high real educational need, respectively. More than half of the participants in this study (۵۹.۲%) felt a great need for education on mother-to-child AIDS transmission. Among the areas of real educational need, the highest scores were related to the area of prevention and the lowest score was related to the area of symptoms. The highest percentage of participants with high real need were training in higher semesters (p = ۰.۰۱۵). The percentage of people who had a real need was higher among medical students than midwifery (p = ۰.۰۰۴).CONCLUSIONAccording to the high real and perceived needs of students, especially in the higher semesters and the field of medicine, a re-examination of the educational curriculum is required.

AIDS, HIV, Mother-to-child transmission, perceived educational needs, real educational needs, needs assessment