Older African American (AA) women are at increased risk for HIV and STDs. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the influence of provider-initiated condom use education on condom use among unmarried, heterosexually active AA women aged 50 and over using the constructs of self-efficacy and attitudes of the health belief theoretical model. The relationships between provider education on condom use, condom use self-efficacy, condom use attitudes, and actual condom use were tested individually, and provider education on actual condom use was tested after controlling for condom use self-efficacy and attitudes among 95 study participants recruited primarily from Raleigh-Durham, NC. A 2-tailed sample t test or analysis of covariance was used for analysis. Provider education on condom usage failed to show a benefit with regard to condom usage, condom use self-efficacy, and attitudes toward condom usage. Additionally, women who received provider education on condom use were less likely to use condoms. Possibly these women had a low perception of risk and vulnerability to HIV and STDs, which correlated with lower condom use. The counter intuitive findings could also be related to another variable that was not tested and should spur more research. Results could be used to contribute to the design of an intervention model that specifically addresses the sexual behaviors of older AA women. Results of this study, combined with previous research, can help emphasize the need for improved patient-provider communication so that provider communication produces a more positive outcome and helps limit the spread of HIV and STDs, a limitation that would benefit individuals, whole communities, and the nation.

Despite the existence of breast cancer screening that could promote early diagnosis and survival of breast cancer, high mortality rates of breast cancer persist among Filipino women. The purpose of the qualitative study was to describe the perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors of Filipino women working as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 Filipino women between the ages of 40 to 60 years who were recruited voluntarily using purposeful sampling technique. Guided by the structures of health belief model (HBM), the study used an inductive coding technique to elicit common themes from the raw data. The study established that the participants' screening behaviors were influenced by family history of breast cancer, the financial and emotional burden of the disease and its treatment, the benefit of early detection, mobility to participate, culture and language barriers, and the social media. The study also demonstrated that the desire to participate in breast cancer screening is influenced by the participants' perception of susceptibility and perception of severity to breast cancer. The findings of the study could create a positive social change as it may inform the practice of public health providers, influence the drafting of informed policies for comprehensive breast health care, and improve access to preventive health services for Filipino women OFWs. Furthermore, the study could empower Filipino women in their personal health decision making, especially when working in other countries where good health is the working capital and a precondition for survival.

<p>The overall aim was to study factors that affect behaviour related to CVD (cardiovascular diseases). Study I tested whether gender, education and so-cioeconomic status correlated to knowledge about risk factors, and Study II studied knowledge and risk behaviour from a national perspective (Sweden versus Poland). Furthermore, Study III examined whether obese people dif-fered from people of normal weight regarding knowledge about risk factors, and Study IV examined whether risk behaviour is affected by personal ex-perience of illness and family history of CVD. </p><p>The studies are population-based with cross-sectional design. Data were obtained by questionnaires and by screening results of risk factors related to CVD. The studies were carried out among 50-year old men and women in Västmanland, Sweden (n=1011) and in Wroclaw, Poland (n=1043).</p><p>The results show that women are more knowledgeable than men about the risk factors for CVD, and that low education is associated with insufficient knowledge about CVD (Study I). The discrepancy between knowledge and behaviour was greater among the Poles than it was among the Swedes (Study II). Obese individuals did not differ significantly from individuals with a normal weight regarding knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors when education was controlled for (Study III). Individuals with a personal experience of illness may be more inclined to change smoking behaviour than the average person (Study IV).</p><p>In conclusion, knowledge about risk factors for CVD varies with education, gender and, to a certain degree, nationality. However, knowledge does not only consist of the conditions of behaviour change. The results in the thesis substantiate theories suggesting that change in risk behaviour is a process over time. Predictors of risk behaviours on the individual level as well as national level are of importance, and needs to be considered in the every day practice of health care professionals.</p>

The overall aim was to study factors that affect behaviour related to CVD (cardiovascular diseases). Study I tested whether gender, education and so-cioeconomic status correlated to knowledge about risk factors, and Study II studied knowledge and risk behaviour from a national perspective (Sweden versus Poland). Furthermore, Study III examined whether obese people dif-fered from people of normal weight regarding knowledge about risk factors, and Study IV examined whether risk behaviour is affected by personal ex-perience of illness and family history of CVD. The studies are population-based with cross-sectional design. Data were obtained by questionnaires and by screening results of risk factors related to CVD. The studies were carried out among 50-year old men and women in Västmanland, Sweden (n=1011) and in Wroclaw, Poland (n=1043). The results show that women are more knowledgeable than men about the risk factors for CVD, and that low education is associated with insufficient knowledge about CVD (Study I). The discrepancy between knowledge and behaviour was greater among the Poles than it was among the Swedes (Study II). Obese individuals did not differ significantly from individuals with a normal weight regarding knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors when education was controlled for (Study III). Individuals with a personal experience of illness may be more inclined to change smoking behaviour than the average person (Study IV). In conclusion, knowledge about risk factors for CVD varies with education, gender and, to a certain degree, nationality. However, knowledge does not only consist of the conditions of behaviour change. The results in the thesis substantiate theories suggesting that change in risk behaviour is a process over time. Predictors of risk behaviours on the individual level as well as national level are of importance, and needs to be considered in the every day practice of health care professionals.

Introduction. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be highly prevalent among young women, and STIs continue to be a challenging health issue on college campuses. Studies have shown that the highest prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) is among young adult women, ages 20 to 24, including female college students. While the HPV vaccine has proven to be highly effective in preventing certain high-risk types of HPV, it is not effective in preventing all types of HPV or other STIs. Practicing other safer sex behaviors, in addition to condom use, also can help individuals protect themselves and their partners from acquiring HPV and other STIs. Purpose. Relationships between knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine, beliefs about HPV, acceptance of the HPV vaccine, and intentions to practice safer sex behaviors were assessed to determine if female college students who had a high acceptance of the HPV vaccine were also more likely to practice safer sex behaviors. Methods. A convenience sample of 2,706 undergraduate female college students, ages 18 to 24, from three U.S. public universities, completed an online survey that measured the following study variables: knowledge about HPV; knowledge about the HPV vaccine; acceptance of the HPV vaccine, specifically influential factors and barriers to vaccination; as well as attitudes, normative beliefs, control beliefs and intentions for practicing safer sex behaviors. Results. The majority of participants had a high level of knowledge of HPV (70.4%) and the HPV vaccine (73.7%). Over one-third of the participants (37.3%) received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Most participants thought they had a low susceptibility to HPV, as 54% thought they were unlikely to contract HPV; however, most (53.6%) thought that HPV would be a serious problem for them. The safer sex behavior that participants thought was the easiest was refusing to have sex with a partner that would not use a condom (51.8% “Strongly agree”) and the safer sex behavior that participants thought to be the most difficult was asking a partner to get tested for STIs (54.5% “Disagree”). Attitudes, normative beliefs, and control beliefs combined to strongly predict intentions (R = .730, p < .001), and attitudes was the strongest predictor for intentions to practice safer sex behaviors (β = .666), 95% CI [.649, .711]. There was a significant positive correlation between vaccine acceptance and intentions to practice safer sex behaviors (r = .087, p < .001), including likelihood of getting vaccinated against HPV (r = .098, p < .001). Conclusions. Findings from this study demonstrate the need for university student health centers to provide information about the HPV vaccine as part of broader STI prevention and social marketing campaigns, targeting female college students who are single, as well as those in monogamous relationships. Furthermore, because young men can be carriers of HPV and the HPV vaccine is now available to them, follow-up studies are needed to determine acceptance of the HPV vaccine among male college students as it relates to HPV knowledge, knowledge of the vaccine, and intentions to practice safer sex behaviors.

This dissertation has made an attempt at exploring the psychological factors that motivates individuals into opting for or against undertaking an HIV-test. The Health Belief Model is used to ascertain its predictive powers towards the motivation for undertaking such a test. Literature on HIV-testing indicates non-exploration of voluntary HIV-testing, as opposed to massive reporting on mandatory HIV-testing. Therefore, the focus of this dissertation is on voluntary HIV-testing. The sample used for the study. comprised of antenatal mothers who were offered HIV/Aids education and then presented with an option of either undertaking the HIV-test, or not. The results of the study indicate that the Health Belief Model has failed in its predictive powers towards motivations for or against HIV-testing. However, the study provided valuable psychological factors that are associated with the decision to undertake the HIV-test, which will be important for future research on HIV/Aids and on the control in the spread of the disease. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

The aim of the study is to assess the connection between women’s participation in breast cancer screening and beliefs towards breast cancer, breast self-examination and mammography. The objectives of the study: 1. To assess validity and reliability of Champion Health Belief Model Scale for beliefs towards breast cancer, breast self-examination and mammography screening for Lithuanian women. 2. To estimate perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, confidence and health motivation. 3. To compare beliefs towards breast cancer, breast self-examination and mammography screening of participant and non-participant women in the screening program. 4. To assess perceived barriers towards mammography screening. 5. To investigate the role of information about breast cancer and mammography screening for women‘s beliefs towards breast cancer, breast self-examination and mammography screening. CONCLUSIONS 1. Champion Health Belief Model Scale is a valid and reliable to assess beliefs towards breast cancer, breast self- examination and mammography. The barriers- mammography item “Regular mammography screening would make me worry about breast cancer” was inappropriate to the scale and expunged from the questionnaire. 2. Surveyed women did not feel much threat to get breast cancer. They overvalued benefits of breast self-examination and positively rated mammography screening. However, confidence to perform breast self-examination was properly low... [to full text] / Šio darbo tikslas buvo įvertinti atvykusių ir neatvykusių tikrintis mamografiškai moterų nuostatų į krūties vėžį, krūtų savityrą ir atrankinę mamografinę patikrą skirtumus. Tikslui pasiekti iškelti tokie uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti Champion VL sveikatos įsitikinimų modelio klausimyno tinkamumą tirti Lietuvos moterų nuostatoms į krūties vėžį, krūtų savityrą ir atrankinę mamografinę patikrą. 2. Nustatyti moterų suvoktą krūties vėžio grėsmę, apsaugančios nuo krūties vėžio pasekmių elgsenos naudą ir kliūtis šiai veiklai, sveikos gyvensenos motyvaciją. 3. Palyginti atvykusių ir neatvykusių tirtis mamografiškai dėl krūties vėžio moterų nuostatas į krūties vėžį, krūtų savityrą ir atrankinę mamografinę patikrą. 4. Įvertinti dalyvavusių atrankinėje mamografinėje patikroje dėl krūties vėžio moterų kliūtis tirtis mamografiškai. 5. Ištirti papildomos informacijos apie krūties vėžį, mamografinę patikrą įtaką moterų nuostatoms į krūties vėžį, savityrą bei atrankinę mamografinę patikrą ir moterų dalyvavimui atrankinės patikros programoje. Išvados: 1. Patikrintas ir įteisintas VL Champion sveikatos įsitikinimų modelio skalės klausimynas yra tinkamas Lietuvos moterų nuostatoms į krūties vėžį, krūtų savityrą ir atrankinę mamografinę patikrą tirti. Sveikos gyvensenos motyvacijos skalė turi būti padalinta į požiūrio į sveiką gyvenseną ir veiklos sveikatos labui subskales. Kliūčių tirtis mamografiškai teiginys “reguliarus mamografinis ištyrimas verstų mane nerimauti dėl krūties vėžio” išbrauktas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

This study investigated the challenges faced by implementers of VCT campaigns for higher education distance learning students. Qualitative and explorative approaches, using a case study, were employed as the research methodology. It has been concluded that the administrative planning procedures of VCT campaigns were not properly followed, which resulted in the following difficulties: defining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, using limited resources, and the inability to reach all the students, in order to get them to actively participate in the campaigns. Lack of coordination of HIV and AIDS activities and the absence of monitoring and evaluation also impacted negatively on the success of VCT campaigns. This study recommends that VCT campaigns have a proper task team constituting of experts in VCT campaign operations, in order to strategically plan and coordinate all the campaigns' activities. The implementers should also monitor and evaluate these activities on a regular basis.

The questionnaire text in English, Afrikaans and Native language / The aim of the study was to minimise non-adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment amongst HIV/AIDS adult patients at a hospital in Namibia thereby promoting successful outcomes in patients on ARV treatment. A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a sample of 112 non-adherent adults. Data collection was through structured interviews and patients’ records review. Data analysis was by descriptive statistics. Rate of non-adherence was 36.7%. Characteristics common in the sample were, being a woman, age of 31-45 years, being unmarried, low educational status, lack of HIV status disclosure, feeling that taking ARVs reminded one of HIV and experience of ARV side effects. Reasons for missed doses included forgetting, alcohol use, access to care, work commitments, lack of food, stress and travelling. Of the respondents, 86.6% had unsupressed viral loads. Recommendations include use of reminders, automated SMS, establishing treatment supporters and collaborative efforts in reducing active substance use to improve adherence. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The purpose of the study was to explore factors that influenced safer sex practices in Malawi. A quantitative, explorative, descriptive study was conducted to determine why the prevalence of new HIV infections was still high in Malawi despite. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Sexually active men, women, boys and girls that participated in the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation community awareness activities participated in this study. The study found that demographic, socio-economic and knowledge-related factors influence safer sex practices in Malawi. Various modifying factors played a role in influencing the individuals’ perception of susceptibility, severity, barriers and benefits of practising safer sex. The findings indicated that individuals generally had a broad knowledge of the spread and prevention of HIV. The Health Belief Model was used as theoretical framework for the study / Health Studies