An exploratory study: the relationship between knowledge of HIV/AIDS, perception of risk, and condom use among African-American female college students

摘要

This study examines knowledge and perception of risk of HIV I AIDS as it relates to condom use among African-American female college students. The terms u22preventive sexual behavioru22 and u22risky sexual behavioru22 are used interchangeably with the term u22condom use.u22 Perceived monogamy, intimacy and trust are discussed as barriers to condom use and, more specifically, as they relate to the contraction ofHIV/AIDS.The predictor variable, knowledge and perception of risk of contracting HIV I AIDS, is defined as the extent to which one knows about the causes, effects, preventive methods and the extent to which one feels personal risk of contracting HIV, while the criterion variable, condom use, is defined as the extent to which one uses a condom each and every time one engages in sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal).Forty African-American female graduate and undergraduate participants from Clark Atlanta University were chosen, during the week of March 15-19, 2004 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., through convenience sampling and asked to complete a 22 item survey related to their knowledge of HIV I AIDS and personal practices of condom use/non-use. Demographic information was gathered using an 8-item form and consent forms were also completed. The design is non-probable, cross-sectional, and was conducted at one point in time.The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The statistical tests utilized were Pearsonu27s r in order to determine a correlation between predictor and criterion variables; and coefficient alpha which determines the level of reliability of the measurement. The results of Pearsonu27s r yielded a correlation between knowledge ofHIV/AIDS and condom use ofr = .122, pu3e .05 (onetailed hypothesis) which indicated the presence of a statistically insignificant positive correlation between the two variables. The reliability coefficient (alpha = .1563) indicated that the measure utilized was inconsistent. The null hypothesis, which states that a high level of knowledge and perception of risk of contracting HIV I AIDS will not result in higher condom usage among African-American female college students, was accepted and the research hypothesis was rejected.