PREDICTING INTENTION TO USE CONDOMS IN HOMOSEXUAL MEN - AN APPLICATION AND EXTENSION OF THE THEORY OF REASONED ACTION

A questionnaire based on the Theory of Reasoned Action was developed a nd tested to identify predictors of intention to use condoms. The ques tionnaire consisted of three original components: Behavioral Intention s, Attitudes and Subjective Normative Beliefs, and a new component, Be havioral Norms. Age of HIV antibody status were also collected. Intern al consistency of the four components of the questionnaire was high: C ronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.76 to 0.87. Logistic modell ing identified the significant predictors of intentions to use a condo m as Attitudes (Odds Ratio = 2.7, 95% Cl 1.80-4.06, P < 0.001) and Beh avioral Norms (Odds Ratio = 1.49, 95% Cl 1.06-2.11, P = 0.03). Contrar y to the theory that demographic variables are not important predictiv e variables of intention, HIV antibody positive status and age were fo und to directly influence Behavioral Intentions to use a condom. About 50% of men older than 25 years of age intended to use a condom, irres pective of HIV status. Overall, 59% of men 25 years of age and younger intended to use a condom, but the percentage was affected by HIV stat us; 22% in men who were HN positive and 63% in men who were HIV negati ve. These findings indicate that after modification, to include HIV an tibody status, Age and Behavioral Norms, the Theory of Reasoned Action can identify significant predictors of intention to use a condom.