E-ISSN 1658-7820
 

Original Article
Online Published: 15 Jan 2026
 


Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia

Abdullah M. Alshahrani, Abdulmajeed A. Alghamdi, Abdulaziz A. Alshahrani, Abdulmalik A. Almuawi, Abdullah H. Alaklube, Abdullah A. Alqahtani, Abdulaziz K. Alghamdi, Malik M. Alamri, Mutasim E. Ibrahim.


Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the students' knowledge of Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) transmission and prevention and their attitude toward HIV.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2024 to March 2025 at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select undergraduate students from the disciplines of humanities, business, engineering, and technology. A self-administered questionnaire comprising 19 items was developed to assess students' knowledge and attitude toward HIV/AIDS.
Results: Out of 422 students, 96.4% (214 male, 193 female) completed the questionnaire. The mean total knowledge score was 25.26 ± 3.62 out of 35. About 88% of students knew HIV/AIDS is transmitted sexually, and 75.7% believed it can spread through blood transfusion. However, 25% wrongly believed that there is a vaccine for HIV/AIDS. There were significant differences in knowledge by students' academic level (p-value=0.0001). More than half of students (54.3%) held negative attitude toward HIV/AIDS infection. Notably, 62% (n = 252) would avoid interacting with someone infected, and about 40% would not continue supporting a friend with HIV/AIDS. Additionally, 12.3% reported reusing the same syringe for medication. There were no significant differences in students' scores by gender (p-value=0.489), residency (p-value=0.233), or college type (p-value=0.106).
Conclusion: The study showed participants had good HIV/AIDS knowledge but flawed attitude. Education and awareness are effective strategies to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma.

Key words: HIV/AIDS, knowledge, attitude, undergraduate students, Saudi Arabia.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alshahrani AM, Alghamdi AA, Alshahrani AA, Almuawi AA, Alaklube AH, Alqahtani AA, Alghamdi AK, Alamri MM, Ibrahim ME. Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 243-249. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878


Web Style

Alshahrani AM, Alghamdi AA, Alshahrani AA, Almuawi AA, Alaklube AH, Alqahtani AA, Alghamdi AK, Alamri MM, Ibrahim ME. Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=304158 [Access: January 25, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alshahrani AM, Alghamdi AA, Alshahrani AA, Almuawi AA, Alaklube AH, Alqahtani AA, Alghamdi AK, Alamri MM, Ibrahim ME. Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 243-249. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alshahrani AM, Alghamdi AA, Alshahrani AA, Almuawi AA, Alaklube AH, Alqahtani AA, Alghamdi AK, Alamri MM, Ibrahim ME. Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. (2026), [cited January 25, 2026]; 10(1): 243-249. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878



Harvard Style

Alshahrani, A. M., Alghamdi, . A. A., Alshahrani, . A. A., Almuawi, . A. A., Alaklube, . A. H., Alqahtani, . A. A., Alghamdi, . A. K., Alamri, . M. M. & Ibrahim, . M. E. (2026) Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC, 10 (1), 243-249. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878



Turabian Style

Alshahrani, Abdullah M., Abdulmajeed A. Alghamdi, Abdulaziz A. Alshahrani, Abdulmalik A. Almuawi, Abdullah H. Alaklube, Abdullah A. Alqahtani, Abdulaziz K. Alghamdi, Malik M. Alamri, and Mutasim E. Ibrahim. 2026. Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (1), 243-249. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878



Chicago Style

Alshahrani, Abdullah M., Abdulmajeed A. Alghamdi, Abdulaziz A. Alshahrani, Abdulmalik A. Almuawi, Abdullah H. Alaklube, Abdullah A. Alqahtani, Abdulaziz K. Alghamdi, Malik M. Alamri, and Mutasim E. Ibrahim. "Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10 (2026), 243-249. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alshahrani, Abdullah M., Abdulmajeed A. Alghamdi, Abdulaziz A. Alshahrani, Abdulmalik A. Almuawi, Abdullah H. Alaklube, Abdullah A. Alqahtani, Abdulaziz K. Alghamdi, Malik M. Alamri, and Mutasim E. Ibrahim. "Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10.1 (2026), 243-249. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alshahrani, A. M., Alghamdi, . A. A., Alshahrani, . A. A., Almuawi, . A. A., Alaklube, . A. H., Alqahtani, . A. A., Alghamdi, . A. K., Alamri, . M. M. & Ibrahim, . M. E. (2026) Knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among undergraduate students at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (1), 243-249. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766435878





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