The study focused on college students in Ghana, West Africa and used the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine the factors that influenced their intentions to use or not to use condoms consistently. In hierarchical multiple regression modeling, the data provided full support for the Theory of Planned Behavior explaining 37%, 47% and 40% of the variances in condom use for the female, male and combined samples respectively. Generally, the students had favorable attitudes toward using condoms consistently and perceived considerable normative pressure to do so. They also perceived a high level of control over the behavior. Consistent with all of these, they had a fairly high level of intention to use condoms consistently. The study confirmed that among this sample of college students, those who have generally favorable attitudes towards condom use, have a general belief that their significant referents approve of condom use and perceive greater personal control over the behavior of consistent condom use, are more likely than their peers who do not hold similar beliefs, to intend to use condoms consistently. It is recommended that AIDS interventions in Africa targeting college students like those in this study should seek to enhance these positive beliefs.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Describe the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and list its constructs. 2. Give operational definitions of the TPB's constructs. 3. Apply the TPB to the study of condom use in a developing country. 4. Identify the psychosocial factors that influence intentions to use condoms among college students in the West African country of Ghana
Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, Developing Countries
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.