Stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and willingness to provide care among health professions students at a public university in the Mountain West Region of the United States

Background: The increasing prevalence of HIV in the United highlights the need for a well-trained workforce capable of providing compassionate and equitable care. This study aimed to assess attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS, willingness to provide care, and associated factors among students in the health professions at a public university in the Mountain West Region of the United States. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used, and the study included undergraduate and graduate students in health sciences and allied disciplines. Data was collected using validated tools from September 1 to September 30, 2023. All students in the relevant departments were invited to participate. Results: -value 0.01). Conclusion: This study identified gaps in the attitudes and willingness of health sciences students to care for people with HIV/AIDS and provides evidence to inform curricular reforms. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12982-026-01923-0.