Increasing the salience of risky sexual behavior: Promoting interest in HIV-antibody testing among heterosexually active young adults

The present study examines whether making the risk associated with unsafe s exual behavior more salient would increase interest in HIV testing. The HIV -related beliefs and behaviors reported by a sample of college students wer e assessed both before and after they had viewed a vulnerability-oriented f ilm about HIV/AIDS. Viewing the film heightened sexually active participant s' belief that they might currently be HIV seropositive. Among participants who were currently sexually active, heightened perceptions of risk and con cern about sexual behavior predicted intentions to utilize HIV testing serv ices (controlling for initial risk perceptions and behavior). Those who eng aged in behaviors related to HIV testing during the I-week period after the film had expressed stronger HIV intentions and more pronounced feelings of anxiety and concern about prior sexual behavior. These results suggest tha t risk-enhancing interventions can stimulate interest in HIV testing.