College students' knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards AIDS in predicting their safe sex behaviour

ABSTRACT

We tested the applicability of the health belief model [HBM] in predicting college students' intentions to use condoms and condom use and to determine whether or not college students' attitudes toward AIDS would influence their decision to use condoms. United States university students [282] responded to a closed-format questionnaire about condom use, following an elicitation open-ended survey. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the predictive power of the HBM components. Of HBM components, cue to action, barrier and benefit were the most powerful predictors of both condom use intentions and behaviour. Students' beliefs and attitudes toward AIDS did not influence their decision to use condoms