HIV Knowledge, Attitudes, and Information Sources Among Adolescents in Rural Philippines

Adolescents remain vulnerable to HIV due to gaps in knowledge, persistent stigma, and reliance on informal information sources, particularly in rural settings. This study examined HIV knowledge, attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV), and sources of HIV-related information among 236 senior high school adolescents in a rural public high school in Albay, Philippines using a descriptive cross-sectional design. Data were collected through a validated self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. Findings showed that adolescents demonstrated good knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention but had substantial misconceptions regarding casual transmission and HIV treatment. Attitudes toward PLHIV were generally supportive yet conditional, with lingering stigmatizing views in everyday social interactions. Social media emerged as the primary source of HIV-related information. Regression analyses indicated that higher grade level was associated with better HIV knowledge and more positive attitudes, while exposure to a greater number of information sources was negatively associated with both outcomes. These findings underscore the need for structured, school-based and digitally integrated HIV education that corrects misconceptions and addresses stigma among adolescents.