Abstract
Background: The Philippines has the highest HIV incidence rate in the Asia-Pacific region, with the highest incidence between the ages 15 to 34 years. There are low levels of HIV knowledge, negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS, and a lack of interventional studies to improve HIV knowledge and attitudes in the country. The high rate of mobile phone use and text messaging in the Philippines offers potential in using technology to address gaps in HIV knowledge and negative attitudes regarding HIV.
Purpose: This pilot study determined the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile text messaging (MTM) in improving HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes among adolescents and young adults in the Philippines. It addressed Sustainable Development Goal 3 target on ending the HIV epidemic.
Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design. Ninety-four participants from two provinces in the Philippines with a rapidly increasing HIV incidence rate participated in a 20-day MTM in July 2024. The HIV Knowledge Questionnaire and AIDS Attitude Scale assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes, respectively, before and after MTM. Independent t-test and analysis of variance were used to determine mean differences in HIV knowledge and attitudes among groups of participants. Dependent t-test was used to assess the effectiveness of MTM.
Results: There was a statistically significant increase in HIV knowledge post-MTM (M = 30.6, SD = 8.90) compared to pre-MTM (M = 22.7, SD = 10.7), t(141) = -4.56, p = <.001. A significant increase in HIV attitude scores was observed post-MTM (M = 95.3, SD = 14.7) compared to pre-MTM (M = 88.1, SD = 16.3), t(141) = -2.64, p = .004. Participants who identified themselves as homosexual/bisexual (p=.004), discussed HIV/AIDS with peers (p=.004) and partners (p=.002), answered using the English version of the research instruments (p=<.001), and those who had higher income (p=.006) had significantly higher levels of HIV/knowledge. Significant differences in HIV/AIDS attitudes were seen across sexual orientation (p=<.001) and discussions with peers (p=<.001) and partners (p=.01).
Conclusion: MTM is effective in improving HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes. The results of this study can be used in designing evidence-based public health interventions to address specific knowledge gaps and negative attitudes toward HIV/AIDS.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Gamma Iota
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quasi-Experimental Study, Other
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Sustainable Development Goals, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Global Health Issues, Ethics, HIV, HIV Literacy, Philippines
Recommended Citation
Montegrico, James, "Improving HIV Knowledge and Attitudes of the Youth in the Philippines Through Mobile Text Messaging" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 222.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/222
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-06
Funder(s)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Improving HIV Knowledge and Attitudes of the Youth in the Philippines Through Mobile Text Messaging
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Background: The Philippines has the highest HIV incidence rate in the Asia-Pacific region, with the highest incidence between the ages 15 to 34 years. There are low levels of HIV knowledge, negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS, and a lack of interventional studies to improve HIV knowledge and attitudes in the country. The high rate of mobile phone use and text messaging in the Philippines offers potential in using technology to address gaps in HIV knowledge and negative attitudes regarding HIV.
Purpose: This pilot study determined the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile text messaging (MTM) in improving HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes among adolescents and young adults in the Philippines. It addressed Sustainable Development Goal 3 target on ending the HIV epidemic.
Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design. Ninety-four participants from two provinces in the Philippines with a rapidly increasing HIV incidence rate participated in a 20-day MTM in July 2024. The HIV Knowledge Questionnaire and AIDS Attitude Scale assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes, respectively, before and after MTM. Independent t-test and analysis of variance were used to determine mean differences in HIV knowledge and attitudes among groups of participants. Dependent t-test was used to assess the effectiveness of MTM.
Results: There was a statistically significant increase in HIV knowledge post-MTM (M = 30.6, SD = 8.90) compared to pre-MTM (M = 22.7, SD = 10.7), t(141) = -4.56, p = <.001. A significant increase in HIV attitude scores was observed post-MTM (M = 95.3, SD = 14.7) compared to pre-MTM (M = 88.1, SD = 16.3), t(141) = -2.64, p = .004. Participants who identified themselves as homosexual/bisexual (p=.004), discussed HIV/AIDS with peers (p=.004) and partners (p=.002), answered using the English version of the research instruments (p=<.001), and those who had higher income (p=.006) had significantly higher levels of HIV/knowledge. Significant differences in HIV/AIDS attitudes were seen across sexual orientation (p=<.001) and discussions with peers (p=<.001) and partners (p=.01).
Conclusion: MTM is effective in improving HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes. The results of this study can be used in designing evidence-based public health interventions to address specific knowledge gaps and negative attitudes toward HIV/AIDS.
Description
The Philippines has the highest HIV incidence rate in the Asia-Pacific region and there is lack of interventional studies to address factors contributing to the HIV epidemic. This presentation describes the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile text messaging in improving HIV knowledge and attitudes of Filipino youth.