ABSTRACT
Background@#In 2018, HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) reported an increase in the number of new HIV positive, notably the age group with the biggest proportion of new cases has become younger. In the Philippines, people who are HIV positive experienced stigma and discrimination even from health care professionals. @*Objective@#This study was conducted to determine the knowledge on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the attitudes on people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) of medical students of Cebu Institute of Medicine, Cebu City.@*Methods@#There were a total of 400 respondents. A validated questionnaire was adapted from a previous study by Madamba. Results were analyzed using Minitab 16. Hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance. @*Results@#The mean age of the respondents was 22 years old. Almost all of the medical students have heard about HIV/ AIDS, however more than half do not know of someone nor cared for a person who is HIV positive. More than 80 percent does not have any training on HIV/AIDS and still majority have not advised anyone to undergo HIV testing and counseling. The medical students have a high level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS as well as a positive attitude towards PLHIV, however majority felt the need for further training in handling and managing PLHIV. @*Conclusion@#Having a positive attitude towards people living with HIV can be attributed to the high level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS among the medical students of CIM but further training is needed for these future health care professionals in order to confidently manage and give counselling to PLHIV.