Multiple risk factors in young African-Americans have tremendous implications for the spread of AIDS. Two hundred forty-two heterosexual college students were classified as having low, moderate, or high risk for HIV infection based upon their self-reported sexual practices. Results indicated that subjects differed in AIDS knowledge and attitudes toward condoms with respect to both Gender and Risk level, with men and High Risk individuals being less knowledgeable and having more negative attitudes than their female and Low Risk counterparts respectively. Interaction effects revealed that High Risk men were less knowledgeable than both Low Risk men and High Risk women. High Risk men as well as High and Low Risk women reported more anger surrounding condom usage than Low Risk men. Low perceptions of vulnerability for AIDS were reflected in the entire sample. The implications of this study for primary prevention and future research are discussed.

The current research assessed Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs, sexual behaviour, and drug use practices in 123 heterosexual IDUs (62 men and 61 women) who were seronegative for HIV. Results indicated that HBM variables significantly explained 25% of the variance in condom usage in IDU men. Higher reports of condom usage were associated with negative attitudes related to condom discomfort, inconvenience, and acceptance; positive attitudes related to perceptions of condoms as adding excitement to sex; positive attitudes regarding condom efficacy and lower perceived susceptibility for AIDS. Alcohol, marijuana, and methadone usage explained an additional 21% of the variance in condom usage with alcohol use contributing positively to condom use while the other substances had negative contributions. HBM constructs did not significantly explain the variance in other risk behaviours in this group, however, control variables contributed to significant proportions of the variance in risky practices. HBM components did not significantly explain any of the variance in the sexual behaviours of IDU women, but demographic variables and substance use behaviours contributed to the variance in a number of sexual practices in this group. Based upon these findings, implications for clinical intervention are discussed.

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