BEHAVIORAL-TRAINING AND AIDS RISK REDUCTION - OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO CONDOM USE

To assess the short- and long-term effects of an AIDS-prevention works hop on undergraduates' attitudes about condom use and AIDS, 31 partici pants and 31 controls were studied immediately after training sessions as well as three months later. The workshop was aimed at reducing emb arrassment to purchase condoms, encouraging positive attitudes about c ondoms, and promoting knowledge about AIDS. To help students overcome their embarrassment over condom purchases, a behavioral intervention w as included allowing students to make condom purchases at nearby drug stores. Results revealed that participants reported less embarrassment over condom purchases after training sessions and that this effect be came even stronger over time. Knowledge about AIDS and positive attitu des about condoms also increased immediately after the workshop, but t hese changes did not persist. Results suggest that AIDS prevention wor kshops may lead to transient changes unless a specific skill (i.e., co ndom purchasing) is targeted via behavioral training.