Knowledge and Intention to Test for HIV among Students in a Private College of Nursing

Abstract

Introduction: HIV remains a significant public health concern in the Philippines, which has the fastest-growing epidemic in the Western Pacific. Cases of infection and related deaths are rising, while HIV testing rates remain low, largely due to stigma, misconceptions, and a perceived lack of need for testing. This study explored the relationship between HIV knowledge and the intention to test for HIV among nursing students at a private college in Iloilo City, Philippines, enrolled in the second semester of Academic Year 2025–2026. Methods: A descriptive-correlational research design surveyed 325 of 2,090 nursing students (first to fourth year), selected through stratified sampling for fair representation. Two tools gathered data: an adopted questionnaire on HIV knowledge and a researcher-made questionnaire on intention to test for HIV. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) described students’ knowledge and intentions. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test checked data normality, and Spearman’s rho assessed correlation at α = 0.05 given the non-normal data distribution. Results: Nursing students showed high HIV knowledge (M = 9.57, SD = 0.744) and an intention to test (M = 3.16, SD = 0.640). Statistical analysis revealed a significant but very weak positive relationship between HIV knowledge and intention to test (rₛ = 0.167, P = 0.003). Students were most knowledgeable about the importance of testing and counseling by trained professionals in hospitals. The main motivator for testing was assurance of confidentiality and privacy. Discussion: Improving HIV knowledge can help reduce stigma and encourage more students to get tested, lowering the number of undiagnosed cases. This underscores the importance of integrating comprehensive HIV education in nursing curricula to make HIV testing a routine and accepted practice. Conclusion: The study suggests that there is a need for continuous emphasis on key concepts concerning HIV and its clinical implications. These findings underscore the importance of structured institutional measures in promoting positive health intentions among students. Although the strength of the relationship between variables was very weak, knowledge contributes to shaping health-related intentions. The findings align with the principles of the Health Belief Model, which proposes that individuals’ health behaviors are influenced by their awareness, perceptions, and understanding of health-related risk and benefits. Recommendations: HIV education should be strengthened for nursing students, nurse educators, and administrators to increase the intention to test. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in larger student populations.