PROMOTING SAFER SEXUAL PRACTICES AMONG YOUNG-ADULTS - A SURVEY OF HEALTH-WORKERS IN MOSHI RURAL DISTRICT, TANZANIA

As part of the national effort to prevent further spread of HIV/AIDS, rural health workers in Tanzania are asked to promote safer sex practi ces among the sexually active population. We conducted a survey among health workers in Moshi Rural District, Kilimanjaro, designed to asses s their attitudes, perceived norms and self-efficacy with respect to t he promotion of safer sexual practices among young adults 15-35 years old Health workers at all private and governmental health facilities w ere included (n = 342; participation rate of 68.4%). We observed relat ively strong associations between the frequency and quality of reporte d counselling behaviour and perceived norms, attitudes and self-effica cy (standardized regression coefficients (beta) of 0.329, 0.252 and 0. 159 respectively). In addition, exposure to behaviour change strategie s during formal training and marital status of the health workers were associated with counselling behaviour (beta of 0.133 and 0.118 respec tively). Overall, these factors accounted for 40.8% of the observed va riance in reported counselling behaviour. It is recommended that conti nued education for health workers focus on providing normative support for promoting safer sex, provide information which may help foster po sitive attitudes and teach practical counselling skills to further inc rease the self-efficacy regarding counselling young people.