Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Among Young People Living in Türkiye and Its Relationship with Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) knowledge levels and health literacy among young people living in Türkiye.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Türkiye to assess the relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge levels and health literacy among young adults. The data were collected between April and August 2023. Data were analyzed using the Descriptive Information Form, AIDS Knowledge Scale (AIDS-KS), and Health Literacy Scale (HLS) to examine the correlation between them.

Results: Among the young adults, 52.1% stated that they needed health education for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Also, 70.1% reported that they knew about HIV/AIDS, and 74.8% reported that they had information about the ways of transmission. The participants’ mean score on the AIDS-KS (8.04 ± 4.58) was low, and the mean score on the HLS (101.99 ± 19.28) was good. There was a significant positive correlation between the total score of the AIDS-KS and the total score of the HLS (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Given the strong relationship between young adults’ HIV/AIDS knowledge and health literacy, the development of innovative education and awareness campaigns that integrate these 2 areas can be a strategic step in improving public health and preventing the spread of infection among young people.

Cite this article as: Şen MA, Yakıt Ak E, Tandoğan Ö, Akdemir A. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Among Young People Living in Türkiye and Its Relationship with Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study. Arch Health Sci Res. 2025; 12, 0010, doi: 10.5152/ArcHealthSciRes.2025.25010.