Examination and prediction of elementary school teachers' intentions to teach HIV/AIDS education.
Although studies have looked at school teachers' beliefs and attitudes toward AIDS and students with HIV/AIDS, none have specifically addressed teachers' intentions and attitudes toward teaching HIV/AIDS education. This study examines and predicts elementary school teachers' intentions to teach their students about HIV/AIDS. The postulates of the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior provided the framework for the examination of teachers' beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding AIDS education. A sample of 198 elementary school teachers employed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts completed self-administered questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict intentions to teach HIV/AIDS, and to identify the determinants of intentions. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, the variables of the theory of planned behavior, explained 64% of the variance in teachers' intentions; perceived behavioral control contributed the greatest weight to the prediction. Significant variance was additionally explained by three variables external to the theory of planned behavior: in-service training, grade taught, and past HIV/AIDS teaching behavior.
Burak
L J
LJ
Worksite Tobacco-Control Project, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02146.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged