Investigation of the mediating effect of AIDS knowledge level and the moderating role of gender in the relationship between sexual health literacy and attitudes toward AIDS among university students

HIV is a retrovirus that targets the immune system and is an important public health problem because, if left untreated, it leads to AIDS. Sexual health literacy has a critical importance in terms of individuals recognizing sexual health problems, taking precautions, and accessing accurate information. Since the level of correct knowledge may affect attitudes toward individuals with AIDS, it may be possible to both prevent infectious diseases and change negative attitudes by increasing sexual health literacy. In this study, university students' sexual health literacy and their levels of knowledge and attitudes toward AIDS were examined, and the mediating effect of AIDS knowledge in the relationship between sexual health literacy and attitudes toward AIDS, as well as the moderating role of gender, were investigated. This descriptive and relational study was conducted between December 1, 2024, and June 1, 2025, with students studying in departments outside the field of health at Afyon Kocatepe University. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the AIDS Knowledge Scale, the AIDS Attitude Scale, and the Sexual Health Literacy Scale. Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS 25.0 and Hayes' PROCESS macro (Model 59, Version 4.1). The mean age of the students participating in the study was 21.33±2.21. The students' mean sexual health literacy score was found to be 54.91±10.85; their mean AIDS knowledge score was 15.04±2.89 and their mean AIDS attitude score was 51.62±11.02. Bootstrap analyses regarding the mediation effect showed that the indirect effect of sexual health literacy on attitudes toward individuals with AIDS was significant in both females (indirect = 0.032, CI [0.009–0.058]) and males (indirect=0.037,CI [0.004–0.083]), and that AIDS knowledge had a mediating role. However, it was determined that gender did not have a moderating role in this effect. As a result, it was identified that the students' sexual health literacy and AIDS knowledge levels were high, while their attitudes toward individuals with AIDS were at a moderate level. In addition, it was found that AIDS knowledge had a mediating effect in the relationship between sexual health literacy and attitudes toward AIDS. Keywords: AIDS/HIV, Sexual Health Literacy, Knowledge, Attitude, Gender, Moderating Effect, Mediating Effect.