Understanding condom use among heroin addicts in methadone maintenance using the information-motivation-behavioral skills model

The current study represents the application of a health behavior model to account for unsafe sexual behavior las opposed to unsafe needle use) among heroin addicts in methadone treatment. The Information-Motivation-Behaviora l Skills (IMB) model of HIV preventive behavior asserts that HIV prevention information, motivation, and behavioral skills are fundamental determinant s of HIV preventive behavior. Participants (N = 156 heroin-addicted individ uals in methadone treatment) completed assessments of their levels of HIV p revention information, motivation, behavioral skills, and safer sexual beha vior. Overall measures of fit generated via structural equation modeling in dicate that the IMB model adequately fits the data obtained. The constructs of the model accounted for a substantial proportion of the variance in saf er sexual behavior, and tests of parameter estimates indicate that while in formation and motivation had direct and reliable associations with safer se xual behavior in this population, behavioral skills did not. Discussion foc uses on the primary roles of HIV prevention information and motivation as d eterminants of safer sexual behavior in this population, on the lack of a s ignificant contribution of HIV prevention behavioral skills, and on the imp lications for intervention of this pattern of findings.