AIDS AND CONDOM-RELATED KNOWLEDGE, BELIEFS, AND BEHAVIORS IN MEXICAN MIGRANT LABORERS

AIDS and condom-related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors were assesse d in Mexican migrant laborers. Tile sample consisted of 55 men and 32 women who were administered a modified version of the Hispanic Condom Questionnaire. Results indicated that respondents were knowledgeable a bout actual modes of HIV transmission but that a third to half of the sample believed they could contract AIDS from unlikely sources such as mosquito bites, public bathrooms, and kissing on the mouth Knowledge of proper condom rise war problematic, and frequency of condom use dur ing the past year was no higher than half of the time. Concern about c ontracting AIDS was generally low but was highest for migrants that we re younger and for those with multiple sex partners. Although responde nts reported few negative beliefs about the consequences of condom use , most believed that women would be seen as promiscuous for carrying c ondoms.