Marseille 2007
| Abstract #106 - Use of Integrated Behavioral Model to Guide POL Conversations to Reduce HIV Risk Behaviors | ||||
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Session: 48.1: Behaviour and prevention (Parallel) on Wednesday @ 08.30-10.30 in CP Chaired by Michael Ross, Marie Preau Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Daniel Montano - Battelle, United States |
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| Additional Authors: Dr Danuta Kasprzyk, Dr Godfrey Woelk, | ||||
| Aim: The Popular Opinion Leader (POL) intervention has been shown to be effective in reducing risky sexual behavior. However, POLs are not trained to target in their conversations specific issues known to be associated with safe sex behaviors. This research tested the use of the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) to identify specific issues for POLs to address in their conversations to have the most impact in changing behavior of their peers. | ||||
| Method / Issue: The IBM was used to guide the design of a survey instrument to measure factors affecting intention to use condoms with various partners, monogamy, and avoiding commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Zimbabwe. As part of a larger study, the survey was administered to individuals in 30 rural growth points in Zimbabwe. The survey data were analyzed for 458 higher risk men who had sex with a casual partner or CSW in the past year. Analyses assessed how well the IBM constructs and their underlying beliefs explain several safe sex behavioral intentions. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The 458 men had a mean age of 24 years, and reported a median 8 lifetime sex partners and 3 in the previous 12 months. IBM measures of attitude, subjective norm and self-efficacy were each significantly associated with mens intentions to use condoms with their spouse, steady partner, casual partner and CSW, to avoid CSWs, and to stick to one partner. Multiple R to explain intention ranged from 0.53 to 0.73. Correlation analyses identified specific beliefs underlying each construct that best explain each safe sex intention. | ||||
| Discussion: Application of the IBM successfully identified the most important constructs and specific beliefs to target by interventions to change behavior. These beliefs, specific to each behavior, should be addressed in conversations that POLs have with higher risk men in order to have the greatest impact in changing behavior. We are developing methods to train POLs to use these findings to improve the effectiveness of the POL intervention. | ||||
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