AIDS-preventive Behavior Research Articles

Self-perception variables that mediate AIDS-preventive behavior in college students.

Three psychological variables--self-efficacy, control and meaning, and perceived risk--were tested in a structural model predicting AIDS-preventive behavior. Results revealed a good model fit, indicating that these psychological variables did play a role in mediating AIDS-preventive behavior in college students. A multivariate analysis of variance and individual analyses of variance conducted for men and women also revealed gender differences on individual items of self-efficacy, perceived risk, and AIDS-preventive behavior. This study underscores the importance of identifying and assessing the psychological determinants of AIDS-preventive behavior.

Sexuality and AIDS: attitudes and behaviors of adolescents in East and West Berlin

The study which was conducted in 1990 in Berlin, Germany, compares two samples of 542 adolescents from West Berlin and 340 from East Berlin. The present investigation shows that the general trend toward sexual liberality among adolescents is continuing and that necessary processes of adolescent sexual development appear not to be influenced by the threat of AIDS. Though the level of knowledge about the threat of AIDS is, on the whole, satisfactory, this does not in itself guarantee determined and consistent AIDS-preventive behavior. Fewer than one-third of sexually-active adolescents, and even fewer than one-fourth of those in the most sexually-active group, can be described as consistent users of condoms. The attitudes of adolescents in regard to contraceptive characteristics only partly suggest a preference for condoms. When adolescents are asked directly about condoms, they additionally emphasize their effect of reducing feeling and pleasure. Adolescents with experience of sexual intercourse rate condoms more negatively than do those without such experience. However, AIDS-education efforts can make use of the fact that consistent condom-users expressed clearly more positive attitudes to condoms than did others. Although the comparison between East and West Berlin adolescents yielded differences in certain details, these differences are not of significance to AIDS-education programs which seek to increase AIDS-preventive behavior.

Comment on Bassman's “Object Relations and Self-Reported Aids Self-Care Behavior”

Bassman (1991) makes a valuable contribution to our knowledge of AIDS preventive behavior. The theoretical framework of object relations theory, however, is unnecessary for an understanding of Bassman's findings.

The Emergence of Adolescents as a Risk Group for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Adolesceents have only recently been identified as a risk group for human immunodeficiencv, virus inifectioni. Limited data suggest that the prevalence of HIV infection among selected adolescent populatiotns is considerable. These data, however, are not generalizable because of the unrepresentative nature of the adolescent populations studied. Surrogate epidemiologic markers for projecting the potential spread of HIV in the adolescent populationi are idenitified. These markers include the prevalence of contraceptive behavior, rate of untinttetided pregnancy, and the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. Adolescetits kniowledge, attitudes, atid clanges in AIDS-preventive behavior are described. Psychosocial factors that may influence the adoption and maintenance of AIDS-prev entitie behav iors are identified and discussed. To increase the potentialfor developing the most effective HIV prevention programs, there is a need for greater understanding of the psxychosocial determinants motivating behavior change among adolescents.

Predictors of AIDS-preventive behavior among homosexually active men

Predictors of adoption of safer sexual behaviors were examined in a cohort of 278 homosexually active men with stable HIV-antibody status followed over 12 months at a Boston community health center. The behaviors examined included: (1) restriction of partners to one monogamous or steady relationship and (2) among men who maintained multiple or non-steady partners, the avoidance of unprotected receptive and insertive anogenital contact. For each behavior, men who adopted consistently safer behavior were compared with those who remained unsafe, using bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression modelling. The strongest predictor of all behaviors was the initial level of the unsafe behavior. After controlling for this, weak effects of several health beliefs were found, including perceived susceptibility and medical efficacy. Men who became aware of a positive HIV-antibody test result and who reported greater effort to change their behavior were more likely to adopt safer insertive anogenital contact. In this generally well-educated cohort with high levels of knowledge about AIDS, adoption of safer sexual behaviors is best predicted from previous levels of unsafe behavior.

Responses to the aids epidemic among homosexually active men: Factors associated with preventive behavior

This study explored factors that are related to AIDS preventive behavior in 201 asymptomatic homosexual and bisexual men seen at a community health center. The analysis concentrated on two dependent variables: the effort made to reduce high risk behavior, and the number of anogenital partners (subject receptive) during the previous 6 months. Independent variables included: perceptions of the threat of AIDS (susceptibility and severity), perceived efficacy of clinical interventions, perceived benefit of behavior change, beliefs of friends and lovers, knowledge of the HIV antibody test (what it is and its interpretation), knowledge of risk factors for AIDS, involvement in informational activities, direct experience with AIDS, age, educational level, and other preventive behaviors. Multiple regression modelling suggested that greater reported behavioral effect was associated with greater perceived susceptibility to and severity of AIDS, and with involvement in informational activities, and beliefs of friends and lovers. Fewer anogenital partners (subject receptive) were significantly associated only with fewer lifetime partners and older age. Knowledge of high risk behavior was not associated with either dependent variable. These results suggest an important role for educational and counseling interventions designed to modify critical perceptions, and underscore the need for further longitudinal modelling of behavior change.

Relationship Of Knowledge And Attitude Toward Prevention Of HIV And AIDS Behavior At Cafe Pramusaji In Tanjung Bira

AIDS or Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome is a collection of symptoms that arise due to decreased immunity caused by infection by HIV. As a result of decreased immunity, the person is very susceptible to various infectious diseases that are often fatal. With a healthy lifestyle, the time between HIV infection and becoming ill with AIDS can range from 10-15 years, sometimes even longer. Not having sexual intercourse with an infected person, especially anal intercourse, ie body fluids, blood, semen or vaginal secretions most likely to be exchanged, is the only 100% effective way to prevent HIV transmission through sex. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of knowledge, attitudes with HIV and AIDS prevention behavior in Cafe Waiters in Tanjung Bira, Bontobahari District, Bulukumba Regency. This study uses an analytic observational design with a "cross-sectional" approach. The study population was all cafe waitresses, amounting to 150 waitresses. The number of samples was 59 respondents. The sampling technique uses probability sampling with a systematic sampling approach. Data collection using a questionnaire. The analysis used the chi-square alt merge cell test and chi-square alt fisher test. The results showed that there was a relationship between knowledge and HIV and AIDS prevention behavior in Cafe Waiters in Tanjung Bira, Bontobahari District, Bulukumba Regency, as evidenced by ρ = 0.038 <α = 0.05 and there was a relationship between attitudes and HIV and AIDS prevention behaviors in Cafe stewards in Tanjung Bira, Bontobahari District, Bulukumba Regency, proven by ρ = 0.017 <α = 0.05. The conclusion in this study is that there is a relationship between knowledge and attitudes with HIV and AIDS prevention behavior in Cafe Waiters in Tanjung Bira, Bontobahari District, Bulukumba Regency.