HIV-PREVENTIVE COGNITIONS AMONGST SECONDARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN UGANDA

A self-completion questionnaire was used to survey HIV-preventive cogn itions among secondary school students in Kabarole district, Uganda. A n encouraging pattern of HN-preventive beliefs was observed, suggestin g that health education efforts have been effective in establishing ba sic transmission knowledge, accurate risk perception and an understand ing of effective precautions. Further analysis explored the prerequisi tes of men and women's HIV-preventive self-efficacy, and intentions an d tolerance of people with AIDS. Approximately a third of variance in men and women's condom use self-efficacy, half the variance in women's condom use intentions and a quarter of the variance in men's condom u se intentions was accounted for by specified variables. Results offere d support for psychological relationships proposed by social cognition models and suggested specific health education targets for young Ugan dan men and women.