Usefulness of the health belief model in predicting HIV needle risk practices among injection drug users.
A health belief model (HBM) that included the dimensions of perceived susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy was employed to predict which injection drug users (IDUs) were engaged in needle-use practices that reduced their risk for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A sample of 118 active IDUs, many of whom also used crack cocaine, responded to interviewer-administered questionnaires that gathered information on their drug-use practices in the last thirty days, as well as their health beliefs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that two health beliefs--perceived self-efficacy (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.55) and perceived susceptibility (OR = .82, 95% CI = .71, .94)--were significantly related to safer injection practices. Other predictors of safer injection were black ethnicity (OR = 3.18, 95% CI = 1.19, 8.47) and injection frequency (OR = .99, 95% CI = .98, .99). The results of this study suggest that the HBM has a role to play in risk-reduction programs targeting IDUs.
Falck
R S
RS
AIDS Prevention Research Project, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45401, USA.
Siegal
H A
HA
Wang
J
J
Carlson
R G
RG
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires