Sunar D, Fourreau PO; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 231 (abstract no. 14244).
Psychology Dept. Bogazici University PK2 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey.
OBJECTIVES: To identify and compare factors determining condom use among Turkish respondents. DESIGN: Questionnaire applied to a purposive sample. METHODS: Respondents were (1) 227 male university students; (2) 42 members of a gay men's group in Istanbul. The questionnaire included items covering sexual activity and practices; condom use; traditional gender role (TGR) attitudes; knowledge of HIV/AIDS; attitudes toward people with AIDS; perception of severity of threat from AIDS; and perception of personal risk. RESULTS: (1) Condom use was most powerfully predicted by low TGR attitudes, and secondarily by perceived severity of threat. (2) TGR attitudes were negatively related to perceived severity, perceived risk, knowledge about AIDS, and attitudes toward people with AIDS. (3) There was no overall difference between heterosexual and homosexual respondents on TGR attitudes, perceived severity of danger, or perceived personal risk; however, gay men were more knowledgeable about AIDS and had more positive attitudes toward people with AIDS. (4) Reported condom use is greater in casual than in long-term relationships. (5) Sexually active respondents were more knowledgeable about AIDS and had higher perception of personal risk than non-active respondents. CONCLUSION: Factors emphasized by the health belief model, such as perceived severity of threat and perceived personal risk, were less powerful in predicting self-protective behavior (condom use) than cultural factors such as attitudes toward traditional gender role ideology. To be effective, preventive interventions must target cultural attitudes as well as personal perceptions.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Behavior
- Culture
- Data Collection
- HIV Infections
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Homosexuality, Male
- Humans
- Male
- Questionnaires
- Risk-Taking
- Safe Sex
- Sexual Behavior
- Students
- Turkey
- ethnology
- methods
- organization & administration
Other ID:
UI: 102228111
From Meeting Abstracts