Background Studies have demonstrated that health care students and practitioners are not immune to stigma towards people living with HIV (PLHIV). This attitude could lead to poor quality of care if it remains uncorrected. However, little is known about dietetic students’ acceptance of PLHIV despite their substantial role in treatment. This study aimed to measure the extent of knowledge and stigma towards PLHIV among dietetic students and to determine the associated factors using the attribution theory. Methods Students from three dietetics schools in Indonesia (n = 516) were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Survey questions covered demographic information, interaction with PLHIV, access to information sources, cultural values, and beliefs as predictor variables. The outcome variables were comprehensive knowledge of HIV, HIV and nutrition-specific knowledge, and attitudes. Analyses with linear regression and the stepwise selection were performed to determine factors related to the outcome. Results The levels of HIV comprehensive knowledge and HIV-nutrition specific knowledge among dietetic students were low, as indicated by the average score of 19.9 ± 0.19 (maximum score = 35) and 8.0 ± 0.11 (maximum score = 15), respectively. The level of negative attitudes towards PLHIV was high, with 99.6% of participants reported having a high stigma score. Types of university affiliation (public or private), beliefs and values, exposure to HIV discourse, access to printed media, and years of study were significantly related to HIV comprehensive knowledge (p < 0.05). Nutrition-specific knowledge was also correlated with university affiliation, beliefs and values, participation in HIV discussion, and years of study (p < 0.05). HIV comprehensive knowledge, university affiliation, discussion participation, and ethnicities were associated with attitudes (p < 0.05). Conclusions Awareness and acceptance of PLHIV must be further improved throughout dietetic training to ensure patients’ quality of care since students represent future dietary care providers. Considering the consistent findings that affiliation to education institution correlates with HIV knowledge and attitude, some examinations concerning the curriculum and teaching conduct might be necessary.

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Background: Adolescent is a transition phase from childhood to adulthood that marked by the change on physical, mental and psychosocial aspect. Adaptation on the change that people met in their life is called psychosocial stress. Stress makes a change on food habit and a disturbance on nutrition’s absorbance. Those circumstances affect people’s nutritional status.Objectives: To identify the correlation between psychosocial stress and nutritional status among SMP Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta’s students.Methods: This study was an observational study which used a cross sectional design. It held by quantitative approach to identify the relationship between psychosocial stress and nutritional status. Subject of the study were 85 students of SMP Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta. Respondent’s identities were collected by using identity questionnaire. Psychosocial stress’s status was collected by using SRRS questionnaire (social readjustment rating scale) that was modified for adolescent. Respondent’s calories intakes were assessed by using the form food recall 3 x 24 h. Anthropometrics data collected were weight and height. The adjustment of psychosocial stress’s status used SRRS questionnaires. Calories intake were measured by using nutrition software (Fp2). Student’s nutritional status was measured by using Epi 2000 software. Relationship’s analysis among variables uses statistical test of SPSS 12.00, with the correlation or linear regression test.Result: From this study, 49.4% (42 people) have normal nutritional status, 4.7 % at under nutrition level, 25.9% at risk of obesity, and 20% obesity. From the measurement of psychosocial stress’s score, there were 61.2% (52 people) in a non-tress condition, while the other was on stress at different level. Statistical test showed that there was no relationship between psychosocial stress and nutritional status (p > 0.05).Conclusion: There was no significant relationship between psychosocial stress and nutritional status among SMP Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta’s students.

Responding to the increasing reports of health students and professionals demonstrating stigmatized attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV), this article examined the learning process that takes place during their academic training. Using symbolic interactionism as a theoretical framework, we studied the way lecturers in dietetic schools in Indonesia make meaning of their understanding and experience of HIV in relation to their teaching conduct. We found that the current curriculum does not provide adequate opportunities for students to learn and interact with PLHIV. Participants described HIV discussion is mainly limited to the clinical aspects and essential treatment as they were uncomfortable discussing HIV with the students. The ostensible symbolic meaning of HIV among dietetic lecturers in Indonesia was compounded with limitations and restrictions affecting their teaching practices and attitudes to PLHIV. Future intervention is required to help lecturers recognize their degree of awareness and personal values about HIV.