PREFERRED SOURCES OF AIDS INFORMATION, RISK PERCEPTIONS, AND RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG INNER-CITY COMMUNITY-COLLEGE STUDENTS

To understand preferred sources of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) information and level of worry about human immunodeficiency vir us (HIV) among community college students, a survey of 102 students in an inner-city community college was conducted. The survey requested i nformation on preferred sources of information about AIDS, risk behavi ors, and level of worry about HIV infection compared with other life r isks. Forty-six per cent of respondents had engaged in risk behaviors for AIDS. Of those who were sexually active, 81% acknowledged not alwa ys using a condom. Students noted that they were more likely to believ e AIDS information from a health professional than from a friend, rela tive, teacher, clergy, or celebrity. Overall, getting AIDS ranked thir d on a list of life worries, ranking only behind getting bad grades an d the death of a family member. For students who identified themselves as black or Latino, however, getting AIDS ranked first on a list of l ife risks. For those students who reported highrisk behavior for getti ng HIV, getting AIDS also ranked first on a list of life worries. We c onclude that those students at whom messages about risk status have be en targeted are most likely to report being more worried about getting AIDS than about other adverse life events. It remains unclear, howeve r, whether heightened levels of worry about HIV actually translate int o changes in risk behavior.