Knowledge and Awareness about HIV Among People Living with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Introduction:The impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) extends beyond physical health, affecting social, sexual, and psychological well-being.This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness levels of people living with HIV (PLWH), including the sources of their knowledge and influencing factors. Materials and Methods:This prospective, cross-sectional survey study included 150 PLWH over 18 years of age, who attended the Infectious Diseases outpatient clinic of Sivas Cumhuriyet University Hospital between January and May 2024.Participants completed a 24-item self-administered questionnaire, comprising 12 demographic questions and 12 items assessing knowledge of HIV transmission, treatment, and prevention.Knowledge was scored on a scale from 0 to 12, with scores 7 classified as demonstrating sufficient knowledge.Results: Of the 150 participants, 127 (84.7%) were male, with a mean age of 37 (inter quantile range= 31-46) years.The majority of participants were heterosexual (n= 83, 55.3%), single (n= 97, 64.6%), and had a high level of education (n= 85, 56.6%).A total of 70 participants (46.6%) had disclosed their HIV status to at least one person.Sufficient knowledge was significantly associated with being single (p< 0.001), identifying as homosexual (p< 0.001), being employed (p= 0.007), having a university education (p< 0.001), and membership in a PLWH association (p< 0.001). Conclusion:Although the participants had relatively sufficient HIV knowledge, disclosure rates were low.Members of PLWH associations demonstrated significantly better awareness.The results emphasize the need for supportive, stigma-reducing interventions that promote behavior change alongside knowledge dissemination.