Multifaceted Exploration of Public Awareness, Government Perspectives, and Community Attitudes Toward HIV

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this research is to quantify the knowledge of students about HIV, social media contribution, and their satisfaction with the government and society's acceptance of HIV patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of 579 participants was conducted at Punjab University, University of Peshawar, Karachi University, Baluchistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences University, and Quaid-i-Azam University. Student self-administered surveys included demographics, knowledge, government satisfaction, social media rumors, and PLWHA acceptability. Result: The response rate was 96.5%. The four variables are knowledge, government satisfaction, social media rumors, and HIV patient acceptance. The knowledge score in married males (Beta = –0.075) and married females (Beta = –0.022), government satisfaction in married males (Beta = 0.087) and females (–0.412), social media rumors in married males (Beta = –0.125) and married female (Beta = –0.301, and HIV acceptance in society married male –0.301 and married female 0.07. the knowledge and government satisfaction, score showed that males had higher knowledge about HIV than married females. Married women say HIV acceptability in society is strong, whereas men believe social media spreads less misinformation. Similarly, there is a negative correlation between government satisfaction social media rumors (–0.687**) and HIV acceptance in society (–0.687**). HIV acceptance has a strong correlation with knowledge (0.711**) and social media rumors (0.727**). The p < 0.001 indicates that there is a significant correlation. Conclusion: Sufficient knowledge and the positive role of social media, effective government contributions to eradicate HIV, and more awareness and knowledge can significantly change the attitude of the community toward PLWHA.