Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices on Hiv/Aids Among Senior High Students of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding HIV/AIDS among senior high school students at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School during the 2023–2024 academic year. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was used, and 325 randomly selected students were asked to complete a modified questionnaire based on Akello, Ogendi, and Asweto (2023). Descriptive statistics, weighted means, chi-square tests, and Spearman's rho correlation were used to analyze the data. Most respondents were 18–19 years old (92.9%) and mainly enrolled in the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood strand. They showed moderate knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission, prevention, and control, along with positive attitudes and preventive practices. Statistical analysis found no significant relationship between knowledge and attitude or between knowledge and practice. However, attitude and practice were substantially correlated, indicating that positive attitudes were associated with improved HIV/AIDS-related behaviors. Academic strand and year level were also strongly associated with the various KAP domains. These data indicate that information alone may not result in preventative measures among teenagers, whereas attitudes are strongly associated with HIV/AIDS-related health behaviors. The findings emphasize the need for school-based interventions that focus on attitude building, stigma reduction, behavioral reinforcement, and information distribution for improving HIV/AIDS prevention among senior high school students.