Perceived Risk Modifies the Effect of HIV Knowledge on Sexual Risk Behaviors

Gholamhossein Noroozinejad,Mahmoud Sehat,Mosaieb Yarmohmmadi Vasel,Majid Rezazadeh,Fatemeh Bazrafkan,Khodabakhsh Ahmadi

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2013.00033

Abstract

Background: There is a large controversy in the literature about the inter-relations between perceived risk, knowledge, and risk behavior in different settings, and people at HIV risk are not an exception.Aim: To assess additive and multiplicative effect of perceived HIV risk and HIV knowledge on sexual risk behavior of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs).Method: We enrolled 162 street based IDUs to this analysis. Data came from a national survey of IDUs in Iran, with a cross sectional design. Socio-demographics (employment, education, marital status), HIV knowledge, perceived HIV risk, and four different sexual risk behavior were registered. In the first step, using spearman test, the association of HIV knowledge and risk behavior were tested, then possible moderating effect of perceived HIV risk on this association was determined.Results: Although among IDUs with low perceived HIV risk, HIV knowledge was negatively associated with sexual risk behavior (P < 0.05 for all), this association was not significant among IDUs with high perceived HIV risk (P > 0.05 for all). Thus perceived HIV risk moderated the association between HIV knowledge and sexual risk behavior.Conclusion: Perceived risk should be taken into consideration when studying the effect of HIV knowledge on sexual risk behavior of IDUs. Findings may help us better understand negative effects of fear arousing interventions as a part of HIV prevention media campaigns.

Highlights

Some studies don’t agree with the statement that a high level of knowledge is important in obtaining modifications in high-risk behavior [1], other studies stress the relevance of information in achieving effective control over behavior [2, 3].Health Belief Model (HBM) has provided important insights to predict human behaviors
Results: among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) with low perceived HIV risk, HIV knowledge was negatively associated with sexual risk behavior (P < 0.05 for all), this association was not significant among IDUs with high perceived HIV risk (P > 0.05 for all)
Perceived risk should be taken into consideration when studying the effect of HIV knowledge on sexual risk behavior of IDUs

Summary

Introduction

Some studies don’t agree with the statement that a high level of knowledge is important in obtaining modifications in high-risk behavior [1], other studies stress the relevance of information in achieving effective control over behavior [2, 3].Health Belief Model (HBM) has provided important insights to predict human behaviors. A recurrent theme in HBM theory is the role of perception about risk and benefits associated with a behavior as an antecedent of behavior [1, 4,5,6,7,8] It is possible, that the lack of consistent findings regarding knowledge as a significant antecedent of behavior has occurred because an important (factor, influential factor) has been overlooked. That the lack of consistent findings regarding knowledge as a significant antecedent of behavior has occurred because an important (factor, influential factor) has been overlooked According to this model, high perceived risk of harm should encourage people to take action to reduce their risk. There is a large controversy in the literature about the inter-relations between perceived risk, knowledge, and risk behavior in different settings, and people at HIV risk are not an exception

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Discussion

Conclusion