The Effects of Psychological Inoculation on Cognitive Barriers Against Condom Use in Women with HIV: A Controlled Pilot Study

Past studies have shown that in attempts to prevent HIV; health education yields little change in condom use. The reason may be that education fails to target barriers for changing behaviour. The present controlled pilot study tested whether psychological inoculation (PI) reduces such barriers for using male condoms. Twenty-two Nigerian women with HIV were randomly assigned to receive PI or health education (control). In the PI condition; women learned to refute sentences reflecting barriers against condom use; while controls learned how to use condoms and the consequences of their non-use. Barriers for condom use; self-efficacy to negotiate condom use with partners and actual condom use were self-reported before and one week after interventions. Results revealed that only in the PI group were there statistically significant increases in condom use negotiating self-efficacy and reductions in barriers concerning motivation; sexual satisfaction and partners. Controls reported no statistically significant changes. However; actual reported condom use was unchanged in both groups. Thus; it is feasible to conduct PI interventions in an African sample of HIV patients. Furthermore; PI can reduce cognitive barriers for condom use; while health education yields little changes in such outcomes over time. If replicated in larger samples with longer follow-ups; these findings could eventually have implications for HIV prevention in several world regions

Child sexual abuse, harmful alcohol use and age as determinants of risky sexual behaviours among freshmen in a Nigerian University

In Nigeria, freshmen constitute a risk group of adolescents and young adults capable of engaging in unsafe sexual practices. This study documents the associated factors to sexual risk behaviours practices of University of Ibadan, Nigeria freshmen. Eight hundred and forty one (841), freshmen who attended a routine orientation program were asked to respond to a questionnaire. Results showed that 30.8% were sexually active and 47% did not use condom in their last sexual episode. Associated with sexual risk behaviours include: being a male freshman increasing age; lower tendency for violence; increase sexual compulsivity; alcohol abuse; history of rape and a history of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). Three variables: alcohol abuse; history of CSA and increasing age remained significant in a multiple regression analysis. The paper presents the first evidence of vulnerability of freshmen to sexual risk practices in a Nigerian University. (Afr J Reprod Health 2008; 12[2]:75-88)

Screening for psychosocial problems among school children in Ilorin, Nigeria, using parents self report

The use of parents self-report in the assessment of children's psychosocial or emotional problems is still very minimal in Nigeria. A controlled evaluation of the psychosocial problems using the the parent's version questionnaire of the children depression scale [CDS] L and and Tisher [1983] was carried out on 52 parents of school children with mean age of 15.3 years, [range 12-16 years] mean years of education of 10.01 in a local community of Ilorin, Nigeria. Subjects were screened as satisfied by inclusion criteria into experimental and control groups. Results indicated a partial but inversely discriminating relationship between the 2 levels of parents assessed. Also, a substantial discriminating relationship existed when one compares the self-report of the experimental parents with their children. Findings were discussed in the light of caution and restraint in the use of the children depression scale as an instrument for identifying maladjusted behavior among children in Nigeria