ABSTRACT
PIP: The authors empirically investigated the relative ordering of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in behavior change models and its relation to communicating health-related information. Considerable research has been conducted in the area of behavior change to identify and measure the presence of knowledge, attitudinal, and practice levels for many behaviors. The literature is reviewed. The authors' investigation consisted of interviewing 1680 men and women in Lima, Cusco, Huaraz, Puno, and Chimbote--5 large Peruvian cities--in 3 urban probability household surveys conducted in August 1994, January 1995, and January 1996. Six possible knowledge, attitude, and practice permutations are developed with regard to contraception in Peru. People may use contraceptive methods before they become fully knowledgeable about their chosen methods. In so doing, these users may become misinformed about contraceptive practice and become dissatisfied contraceptive users who discontinue contraceptive use. Media campaigns designed to inform the public can help produce a more satisfied and sustainable contraceptive user base. The informed choice approach can be the basis for effective communication strategies.^ieng
Subject(s)
Attitude , Communication , Contraception Behavior , Knowledge , Models, Theoretical , Personal Satisfaction , Americas , Behavior , Contraception , Developing Countries , Family Planning Services , Latin America , Peru , Psychology , South AmericaABSTRACT
This study suggests that mass-media-generated interpersonal communication networks vary according to an individual's behavior-change stage. As people in Peru adopted modern family planning methods, they increasingly formed and perhaps relied on information from more technical interpersonal communication networks, which shifted from peers to doctors and other service providers. Moreover, information seeking and giving varied with adoption stages in unexpected ways. In collaboration with Apoyo a Programmas de Población (Advocacy for Population Programs) of Peru, we present a model of how interpersonal communication networks generated by mass media messages vary with stage of behavior change.