A test of the effectiveness of strategies for talking about Aids and condom use

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A two phase study investigated the strategies people report having used to discuss AIDS or condoms and the likely effectiveness of these messages. Phase I asked both heterosexuals and homosexuals to list the things they have said about AIDS and condoms in the past. These responses were then content analyzed, and 21 of the resulting messages were used in Phase II with a primarily heterosexual sample. Phase II asked people to evaluate how likely they were to use each of the messages, how likely they were to use a condom if each of the messages were communicated to them, and their likely verbal response to the messages. Results indicated that some messages were more likely to be used than were others, but that almost all of the messages produced the intention to use condoms. The most successful messages included a “better safe than sorry” or a relational focus. Females were more likely to use several of the messages than were males. Most respondents did not use condoms the first time they had sex with their most recent partner. Differences did emerge in the messages likely to be communicated by condom users vs. those who did not use condoms. Some of the reasons that people did not use condoms were also identified. Implications are offered for AIDS education efforts.

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit: