HIV Knowledge, Misconceptions, and Educational Readiness Among Community Health Workers in a Philippine City

Community health workers play a vital role in HIV prevention and health education at the community level, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study assessed the level of HIV knowledge, misconceptions, and educational readiness among community health workers in an urban Philippine setting. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed involving 186 respondents selected through proportionate sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, HIV knowledge on transmission and prevention, readiness for health education, and common misconceptions. Descriptive statistics, weighted means, Pearson correlation, and t-test were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that respondents had an overall advanced level of knowledge on HIV transmission (M=3.64) and prevention methods (M=3.77), and demonstrated very high readiness in delivering HIV-related health education (M=3.75). However, persistent misconceptions were identified, particularly regarding casual contact transmission, moral judgment of people living with HIV, and non-scientific beliefs. Statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and HIV knowledge (p>0.05). The results indicate that while community health workers are generally knowledgeable and prepared, gaps in understanding still exist that may contribute to stigma and misinformation. The study concludes that continuous training and standardized HIV education programs are essential to strengthen knowledge accuracy and reduce misconceptions among community health workers.