Some Psychological Correlates of Adolescent Sexual Behaviour And HIV/AIDS Prevention

Abstract

A survey of 240 adolescents comprising 112 males and 128 females was conducted to find out how perceived control, self-esteem, HIV/AIDS knowledge and general anxiety predicted their perception of HIV/AIDS risk, ability to buy condoms and condom use at first sexual intercourse. An HIV/AIDS prevention program was piloted with 30 participants to assess its impact on participants' health locus of control, self efficacy and HIV/AIDS knowledge at pre- and post- test periods. A regression analysis of the survey indicated that perceived control, HN I AIDS knowledge and self-esteem predicted ability to buy condom. The significance of this for assertiveness training to enhance perceived control over adolescents' health outcomes is highlighted. An interesting finding on adolescent sexual experience was that 65 per cent of the sample at the time of the survey had not had sex before. This is corroborated by the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS, 1998) that reported 62 per cent of women as abstaining. The implication of this for girl-child education is discussed. Though statistical analysis of the intervention gave no significant result, the enthusiasm with which students enrolled in it showed a lack of an appropriate forum to talk about sex.