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Correlates of HIV risk appraisal in women

  • Empirical Research
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of safer sex behavior practices, knowledge of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), social norms, and familiarity with persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with HIV risk appraisal in women. Risk appraisal was measured by perceived susceptibility and seriousness of AIDS. The AIDS Risk Reduction Model was used to construct a salient framework for this descriptive, correlational survey in which 208 urban women of mixed ethnicity residing in areas with high rates of sexually transmitted diseases/AIDS participated. Behavior, knowledge, and social norms contributed significant amounts of variance to percived susceptibility but none of the independent variables contributed significant amounts of variance in perceived seriousness. Overall findings indicate that risk behaviors are commonly reported, AIDS knowledge is incomplete, and denial of risk is pronounced.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Niagara University College of Nursing, Niagara University, P.O. Box 2203, 14109-2203, NY

    Dianne Morrison-Beedy

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  1. Dianne Morrison-Beedy
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Additional information

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by a National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Nursing Research (5 F31 NR06717), Department of Health and Human Services for predoctoral study, and grant awards from Sigma Theta Tau Epsilon Xi Chapter, Helping People with AIDS Inc. of Rochester, and the University of Rochester School of Nursing Alumni Seed Fund and Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Studies.

Grateful acknowledgements are extended to Michael J. Carey, Ph.D., Thomas R. Knapp, Ed.D., and Mary L. Keller, Ph.D., R.N. for their constructive comments in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Morrison-Beedy, D. Correlates of HIV risk appraisal in women. ann. behav. med. 19, 36–41 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883425

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