Behavioral, normative, and control beliefs of Filipino men who have sex with men on repeat HIV testing and counseling

Introduction@#The Philippines faces an increasing incidence of HIV. Timely and regular HIV testing can be a preventive method against HIV infection because early detection of the virus leads to early access to treatment. This can lead to viral suppression in which the virus becomes undetectable and untransmittable. Repeat HIV testing is recommended to men who have sex with men (MSM) and other individuals with previous or ongoing risk of acquiring HIV. Following the Reasoned Action Approach model, providing behavioral interventions in promoting retesting among MSM first needs the identification of their salient beliefs toward a repeat test. @*Method@#A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted. Thirty HIV non-reactive MSM from a community-based HIV testing and counseling center took part in the study. Participants were asked questions designed to elicit salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs toward a repeat HIV test three to six months following the receipt of the non-reactive HIV screening test result. @*Results@#The most salient belief on the positive consequence of a repeat test was having peace of mind with one’s status; while the most salient belief on the disadvantages was investing in time and travelling as well as experiencing pain from the needlestick. Close friends were the most cited normative referent. Accessibility of facilities and time were believed to be the most salient facilitator and barrier, respectively. @*Conclusion@#HIV/AIDS counselors and administrators can become key persons in increasing regular HIV testing by bringing messages that address the unearthed salient beliefs of MSM toward repeat testing. The salient beliefs extracted from the participants can provide basis for behavioral interventions; however, a formal test through a quantitative study of a larger sample is warranted to identify beliefs that significantly affect attitudinal, normative, and control factors of retest intention.

Construcción y validación de una escala para evaluar salud sexual y reproductiva en adolescentes mujeres de la Región Caribe Colombiana / The Development and Validation of a scale to measure Reproductive and Sexual Health of young women in the Colombian Caribbean region

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo el diseño y validez de una escala para evaluar salud sexual y reproductiva. Participaron 919 estudiantes mujeres entre 11 a 19 años quienes respondieron el cuestionario, que evalúa actitudes y normas subjetivas, basado en planteamientos de la teoría de comportamiento planeado. Con el objetivo de comprobar la fiabilidad y validez del instrumento, se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio y un análisis de componentes principales con rotación VARIMAX. Esta investigación incluye dos estudios independientes, en el estudio 1 (prueba piloto) la versión del pilotaje inicialmente constaba de 172 ítems y disminuyó a 78 en la muestra final. Para el estudio 2, en la escala de actitud se reporta una media de 3.68 (D.E. = 1.21) y un a= 0.91. Se extrajeron dos factores agrupados en dos dimensiones que explican un 67.10%; en la escala de normas subjetivas se obtuvo media de 3.80 (D.E. = 1.10) y un a= 0.97. Los ítems se adecuan a la matriz factorial. Se extrajeron 11 factores de los cuales son interpretables 9 y se explican en un 75.89%. En conclusión, el instrumento confirma una confiabilidad adecuada y estabilidad estructural de gran utilidad para la comprensión e implementación de estrategias de acción en sexualidad reproductiva en mujeres adolescentes.

This article describes the design and validation of a scale for evaluating reproductive and sexual health. 919 young females from 11 to 19 years in five Caribbean- Colombian cities were administered the questionnaire that assesses attitudes and subjective norms about the reproductive sexuality, based on the planned behavior theory (Ajzen & Fishbein, 2000). The reliability and validity of the instrument was analyzed through exploratory factorial analysis with principal components and VARIMAX rotation. The methodology includes two independent studies; in study 1 (pilot test) the first questionnaire consisted of 172 items and decreased to 78 in the final sample. For study 2, the attitude scale reported (Mean = 3.68, ED = 1.21) and Cronbach's alpha reliability was 0.91. Two factors were extracted and grouped into two dimensions that explain 67.10% of the variance. For the subjective norms scale (Mean = 3.8, ED = 1.1) Cronbach's alpha reliability was 0.97 and eleven factors were extracted and grouped into nine dimensions, which explain 75.89% of the variance. The scale showed good reliability and structural stability for the analysis and design of programs for sexual and reproductive health in adolescent girls.

What is popular? Distinguishing bullying and aggression as status correlates within specific peer normative contexts

Abstract This study tested social status correlates of aggression and bullying and how these are influenced by peer groups' normative beliefs about aggression and prosocial behavior among 1165 fourth, fifth and sixth graders in Chile. Associations between aggression and popularity (positive) and social preference (negative) were confirmed, whereas bullying was negatively associated with both dimensions. Normative beliefs about aggression and prosocial behavior were assessed at the group level, while social status was assessed at the classroom level through peer nominations. Hierarchical Linear Analyses showed that in groups with a higher value associated with aggression, classmates rated aggressive peers as less popular but also less disliked. The status correlates of bullying remained unaffected by peer normative beliefs. The discussion focuses on the social function of aggression as compared to the social sanction associated with bullying, and on the specificity of these associations at different layers of the social ecology. (AU)

Community Violence and Reactive and Proactive Aggression: The Mediating Role of Cognitive and Emotional Variables / Violencia Comunitaria y Agresión Reactiva y Proactiva: el Papel Mediacional de las Variables Cognitivas y Emocionales / Violência Comunitária e Agressão Reativa e Proativa: o Papel Mediacional das Variáveis Cognitivas e Emocionais

Children exposed to higher levels of violence tend to be more aggressive. Specific mechanisms explaining this relationship are still being uncovered. This study sought to identify the relationship between exposure to community violence and reactive and proactive aggression, as well as cognitive and emotional variables mediating this relationship. Participants were 1,235 students (from fifth to ninth grade) from localities of Bogotá, Colombia, with varying levels of community violence. Analyses of self-reported measures confirmed significant associations between exposure to community violence and both reactive and proactive aggression. Normative beliefs supporting aggression, hostile attribution of intent, positive expectations for aggression, and lack of guilt after aggression, partially mediated these relationships, suggesting strategies for prevention.

Los niños y niñas expuestos a elevados niveles de violencia tienden a ser más agresivos que los demás, pero los mecanismos específicos que explican esta relación todavía se están descubriendo. Este estudio buscó identificar la relación entre la exposición a la violencia comunitaria y la agresión reactiva y proactiva, así como las variables cognitivas y emocionales que median dicha relación. Con la participación de 1,235 estudiantes (de quinto a noveno grado) de diferentes localidades de Bogotá, Colombia, y de diversos niveles de violencia comunitaria, los análisis de las medidas de autoreporte confirmaron la existencia de asociaciones significativas entre la exposición a la violencia comunitaria y la agresión tanto reactiva como proactiva. Las creencias que legitiman la agresión, la atribución hostil de intenciones, las expectativas positivas sobre la agresión, y la falta de culpa al agredir, mediaron parcialmente estas relaciones, sugiriendo estrategias de prevención.

As crianças expostas a elevados níveis de violência tendem a ser mais agressivas que as demais; no entanto, os mecanismos específicos que explicam esta relação ainda estão se descobrindo. Este estudo pretendeu identificar a relação entre a exposição à violência comunitária e a agressão reativa e proativa, assim como as variáveis cognitivas e emocionais que mediam tal relação. Com a participação de 1.235 estudantes (de 8 a 18 anos) de diferentes localidades de Bogotá (Colômbia) e de diversos níveis de violência comunitária, as análises das medidas de autorrelatório confirmaram a existência de associações significativas entre a exposição à violência comunitária e a agressão tanto reativa quanto proativa. As crenças que legitimam a agressão, a atribuição hostil de intenções, as expectativas positivas sobre a agressão e a falta de culpa ao agredir, mediaram parcialmente estas relações e sugeriram estratégias de prevenção.