HIV AIDS-RELATED SOCIAL ANXIETIES IN ADOLESCENTS IN 3 AFRICAN COUNTRIES/

This study examines the social anxieties associated with HIV preventio n in adolescents in three African countries (Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimba bwe). The subjects used in this study were black Africans in form 2 or grade 10 in public high schools (Nigeria, n = 387; Kenya, n = 274; Zi mbabwe n = 313). Subjects responded to the 33 item AIDS Social Asserti veness Scale (ASAS). Data indicated similar factor structures for each of the three countries and included five factors. The combined sample factor intercorrelations were modestly but significantly correlated. The mean scores for each factor were compared, and ANOVA of the Factor s by country, by gender, and by interaction between country and gender were performed. The factor structures were very similar between count ries, each including five factors that had similar themes: condom inte ractions, refusal of risk, confiding in significant others, contact wi th people with HIV/AIDS, and general assertiveness. These factor struc tures were also very similar to one found in previous studies of Austr alian adolescents on the ASAS. The Kenyan means for four of the five f actors were significantly lower than those for Nigeria, and were also significantly lower than the Zimbabwean means for two of the five fact ors, suggesting that Kenyan students are less anxious about social sit uations related to HIV/AIDS than others. Significant variance was foun d for several factors due to gender, country, and the interaction betw een gender and country. These results have important implications for designing education programs. The similarities of anxieties regarding HIV/AIDS social situations suggest that these clusters of social barri ers to reduction of HIV infection risk might form the basis of educati onal interventions, and that dimensions of HIV social anxieties are si milar across countries. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.