Knowledge About Health And Human Rights Among Saudi Medical Students: Towards A New Era In Medical Education

Abstract

Objectives: Medical curricula in Saudi Arabia have limited focus on health and human rights. This study evaluated a health rights education course's impact on medical students' awareness of health empowerment and rights.

_{Methods: An intervention was conducted at a Western Saudi Arabian medical faculty with 5th-year students in their Obstetrics and Gynecology rotation. They were assessed using a questionnaire about health empowerment, reproductive health rights, and rights of vulnerable groups. It was administered pre-intervention, early post-intervention, and in the rotation's last week. Anonymity and voluntary participation were emphasized. Results: 181, 158, and 225 students participated in the three respective assessments. Both post-intervention assessments revealed increased awareness of health empowerment, reproductive health rights, and health rights. There were gender differences, with females showing heightened awareness of health empowerment and certain women’s rights, while males had more knowledge about HIV rights. Conclusion: Introducing health and human rights in medical curricula enhances students' knowledge, narrows gender differences in reproductive health rights, and underlines healthcare providers' role in fostering patient empowerment and observing patient rights.}