Frequency of Condom Use in a Sample of African American College Women and Its Relationship to HIV/AIDS-Related Attitudes
Frequency of Condom Use in a Sample of African American College Women and Its Relationship to HIV/AIDS-Related Attitudes

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Published: 2004

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This study examined the relationships between HIV/AIDS knowledge, perceived risk and stigmatization, self-efficacy for using condoms, religiosity, and frequency of condom use in a sample of 154 African American college women. Four research questions were proposed: Do participants who engage in greater stigmatizing of PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) participate in less condom usage; is greater HIV/AIDS knowledge positively related to frequency of condom use; does condom self-efficacy act as a mediator between stigmatizing of PLWHA and frequency of condom use; and, does perceived risk for HIV/AIDS act as a mediator between HIV/AIDS knowledge and frequency of condom use. The results showed that none of the three stigma dimensions reported significant correlations with frequency of condom use. Overall, no significant correlations were found between frequency of condom use and any of the other variables (i.e., HIV/AIDS knowledge, and perceived risk), except for condom self-efficacy. A positive correlation was found between condom self-efficacy and frequency of condom use among casual partners (.706, p

To Use Or Not to Use
To Use Or Not to Use

Author: Kristina B. Hood

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Published: 2012

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The current project involved three studies designed to examine which characteristics of persuasive communications change condom use attitudes. Study 1 investigated the effect of message type (affective versus cognitive) and source (male versus female) on attitude change among a sample of African American women attending college. In Study 1 (N = 146), the affective message and female source produced the most positive change in condom use attitudes. Study 2 examined whether message type and source were associated with favorable condom attitudes in a community sample and whether these findings differed from a college sample. Twenty-seven women participated in group discussions and completed measures of attitudes and intentions. Similar to Study 1, the pattern of means in Study 2 showed the affective message delivered by the female source resulted in the most positive condom use attitude change. These results were not significant likely due to the small sample. Focus groups were also conducted to better understand the types of condom use messages African American women find effective. Several themes emerged: condom used primarily for pregnancy prevention; negative condom use attitudes; communicating messages through internet, TV, and radio; creating fun, catchy, and informative messages; using celebrities and peers to deliver messages; and increasing the frequency of messages to equal importance of topic. The third study assessed the effectiveness of an attitude change pilot intervention that was based on the results of Studies 1 and 2. The study used a 2 (intervention vs. control) X 3 (pretest, posttest, follow-up) mixed factorial design to examine whether women0́9s attitudes changed after a pilot session and whether the change persisted over time. African American women (N = 115) were recruited through Craigslist and community agencies. There were no significant differences across time for the intervention and the control group. Reasons for the lack of an effect in Study 3 are discussed. Taken together, these studies provide evidence that, under certain conditions an affective message delivered by a female source can change attitudes toward using condoms. The results of these studies could potentially enhance existing interventions by renewing a focus on changing attitudes as well as behavior.

Relationships Among Acculturation, Self-positivity Bias, Stigma, and Condom Use in a Sample of Urban College Students
Relationships Among Acculturation, Self-positivity Bias, Stigma, and Condom Use in a Sample of Urban College Students

Author: Molly Radcliffe Neff

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 122

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Despite an increase in interventions targeted at lowering the rate of HIV/AIDS among college students, the rate of HIV/AIDS infections has not decreased. The purpose of this study was to identify factors (i.e., HIV-sexual knowledge, self-positivity bias, peer norms, acculturation, perceived risk of HIV, HIV-related stigma, and condom use) that may affect condom use among college students who live in an area where the prevalence of HIV is relatively high. The current study utilized a sexually active sample (N=397) of diverse college students (predominantly African American and White) in an urban setting to examine the relationships. Path analysis was used to explore hypotheses. Results indicated that students who endorsed higher levels of self-positivity bias were more likely than other students to report not using condoms the last time they had sex and to perceive themselves at less risk of HIV/AIDS infection. In addition, students who reported unsupportive peer norms regarding safe sex practices perceived themselves at a higher risk of HIV/AIDS. With respect to gender differences, females reported more stigma towards individuals with HIV/AIDS than males, and males reported more perceived risk of HIV/AIDS than females. Lastly, African American college students perceived themselves to be at greater risk of contracting HIV/AIDS than other students and minority students endorsed greater stigma towards individuals with HIV/AIDS than White students. Results emphasize the need for college HIV/AIDS interventions to target peer norms and personal bias as well as cultural and gender differences that might impact condom use.

Modeling Condom Use in a Statewide Sample of HIV-positive Individuals
Modeling Condom Use in a Statewide Sample of HIV-positive Individuals

Author: Arron Service

Publisher:

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 438

ISBN-13:

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A portion of HIV positive (+) individuals continue to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, despite the risks to themselves and their partners (Schiltz & Sandfort, 2000). The current investigation used self-report data from a diverse statewide sample of HIV+ individuals to develop a model of condom use behavior. The model sought to explain variance in the frequency of condom use and condom use stage of change using concepts related to the Transtheoretical Model Stages of Change (Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992), condom efficacy (Bandura, 1977; Sterk, Klein, & Elifson, 2003), and HIV related knowledge. Using structural equation modeling, a parsimonious model was achieved once factors corresponding to HIV related knowledge and positive condom attitudes were removed from the model. Three factors of condom efficacy (negative condom attitudes, condom use efficacy, negative social consequences of condom use) were found to explain variance in condom use frequency and condom use stage of change for HIV+ individuals in the current sample. Results provide important information regarding the factors associated with condom use by HIV+ individuals and underscore the need for an increased focus on elements of condom efficacy in prevention programming. Considering the important role that relationship factors can play in the decision to use or not use condoms (Hoff et al., 1997), an additional examination applied the model to four different relationship contexts. Specifically, research has demonstrated that condom use is more frequent in non-committed relationships than in committed relationships and in relationships where individuals do not share the same HIV status (serodiscordant; Simoni, Walters, & Nero, 2000). Results of the current investigation demonstrated that the model could be successfully applied to 3 of the relationship contexts despite sample size limitations (i.e., committed seroconcordant, non-committed seroconcordant, committed serodiscordant). The successful application of this model to three relationship contexts further emphases the central role of condom efficacy in an HIV+ individual's decision to use condoms. Recommendations for STD/HIV prevention with HIV+ individuals are presented and opportunities for future research are provided.