Correlates of HIV risk-taking behaviors among African-American college students: The effect of HIV knowledge, motivation, and behavioral skills

This study identifies theoretically based predictors of condom use in a sam ple of 253 sexually active African-American college students recruited from two historically African-American colleges. The Information-Motivation-Beh aviorol (IMB) skills model of AIDS-preventive behavior was employed to deli neate the roles of HIV/AIDS knowledge, experiences with and attitudes towar d condom use, peer influences, perceived vulnerability, monogamy, and behav ioral skills. A predictive structural equation model revealed significant p redictors of more condom use including: male gender, more sexual HIV knowle dge, positive experiences and attitudes about condom use, nonmonogamy, and greater behavioral skills. Results imply that attention to behavioral skill s for negotiating safer sex and training in the proper use of condoms are k ey elements in reducing high risk behaviors. Increasing the specific knowle dge level of college students regarding the subtleties of sexual transmissi on of HIV is important and should be addressed. Heightening students' aware ness of the limited protection of serial monogamy, and the need to address gender-specific training regarding required behavior change to reduce trans mission of HIV should be an additional goal of college health professionals .