THE AIDS RISK REDUCTION MODEL - EXAMINING INTENTIONS TO USE CONDOMS AMONG INJECTION-DRUG USERS

This paper uses the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM) to examine psycho social factors involved in adopting safer sex practices in a sample of Los Angeles injection drug users (IDUs; n = 161) who reported having more than one sex partner in the year preceding the interview. The ARR M hypothesizes that behavior change is a process occurring in three st ages: (a) labeling one's behavior as problematic, (b) making a commitm ent to behavior change, and (c) taking action to accomplish that chang e. We test the first two stages of the model using a measure of percei ved risk of HIV infection (Stage 1), and intentions to use condoms alw ays during vaginal or anal sex in the next year (Stage 2). We examine differences in the predictive value of the ARRM between IDUs who repor ted using condoms in the year prior to the interview and those who rep orted not using them. We identify leverage points in the model-factors which appear to have a major influence on intentions to use condoms a nd which may be amenable to change through educational or other types of intervention. For both condom users and non-users, susceptibility t o AIDS predicted perceived infection risk (Stage 1). For condom users, knowledge about AIDS also predicted perceived risk. For both groups, self efficacy, peer norms concerning condom use, and the perceived ple asure of using condoms predicted intentions to use condoms (Stage 2). Our findings do not support either direct or indirect relationships be tween the Stage 1 and Stage 2 outcome variables for either group.