Knowledge, Attitude and Perception About Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) Among Clinical Medical Students of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos

Abstract

Background: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The program was started in 2015 and is expected to end in 2030. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the awareness, knowledge, attitude and perception of SDGs among clinical medical students of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos. Method: Consecutive sampling method was used. Results: A total of 141 (82.46%) were aware of SDGs while 30 (17.46%) have not heard about SDGs; 140 (81.87%) got the full meaning of SDGs correctly, 3 (1.75%) were wrong, while 28 (16.37%) did not know its meaning. The major sources of information about SDGs from 203 multiple responses were from the internet with 84 (41.35%) and Television 34 (16.75%). The least were from conferences with 3 (1.48%). The level of knowledge about the SDGs was generally very poor, with only 26 (15.20%), 13 (7.60%) and 1 (0.58%) knowing the correct number of goals, targets, and indicators respectively. The percentage knowledge on the year it was launched, for how long it is supposed to last and the year it will end were also poor with 29 (16.96%), 30 (17.54%) and 35 (20.47%) respectively. The knowledge on the academia playing a more prominent role in the SDGs than MDGs was the highest with 60 (35.09%); getting it correctly, followed by the knowledge on there are more goals on inequality in the SDGs than the MDGs with 46 (26.90%). The student’s perception on the impact of SDGs most likely going to be better than MDGs was 100 (58.48%). The level of awareness of SDGs in Nigeria was perceived to be poor by 126 (73.68%) and good by 45 (26.32%). Only 48 (28.07%) of the students agreed that government is committed to seeing the fulfillment of the SDGs, while 123 (71.92%) did not agree that the government is committed. The attitude of the students towards learning about the SDGs was good as 123 (71.93%) agreed that SDGs should be taught in Universities, while 48 (28.07%) did not agree that SDGs should be taught in Universities. Only 35 (20.47%) of the students did not want to study about SDGs. Conclusion: There will be need to teach university students about SDGs, so as to improve their knowledge of the ongoing SDGs.