Sub-Saharan African university students' beliefs about condoms, condom-use intention, and subsequent condom use: a prospective study.
Whether certain behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and control beliefs predict the intention to use condoms and subsequent condom use was examined among 320 undergraduates at a university in South Africa who completed confidential questionnaires on two occasions separated by 3 months. Participants' mean age was 23.4 years, 47.8% were women, 48.9% were South Africans, and 51.1% were from other sub-Saharan African countries. Multiple regression revealed that condom-use intention was predicted by hedonistic behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs regarding sexual partners and peers, and control beliefs regarding condom-use technical skill and impulse control. Logistic regression revealed that baseline condom-use intention predicted consistent condom use and condom use during most recent intercourse at 3-month follow-up. HIV/STI risk-reduction interventions for undergraduates in South Africa should target their condom-use hedonistic beliefs, normative beliefs regarding partners and peers, and control beliefs regarding technical skill and impulse control.
Heeren
G Anita
GA
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, Suite 520, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, USA.
Jemmott
John B
JB
Mandeya
Andrew
A
Tyler
Joanne C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult