Evidence suggests that in the UK people of sub-Saharan African origin are disproportionately affected by HIV and tend to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage of infection compared to other ethnic groups. Late diagnosis is associated with a poorer medical prognosis and may have a detrimental effect on wellbeing. The study aimed to determine whether CD4. cell count at diagnosis (a marker of late diagnosis) and delay before testing following a perception of risk of HIV were related to Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) variables (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control) in a sample of sub-Saharan African adults with a recent HIV diagnosis. The study had a quantitative, cross-sectional design. Participants completed a structured interview assessing demographic and HIV-testing related variables, including a measure designed specifically for the study to assess TPB variables. CD4 cell count at diagnosis was taken from participants' medical notes. Twenty- five participants took part in the study. The power of the study was therefore too low to adequately test the hypotheses. Exploratory regression analyses were run . It was found that a more negative attitude to testing was significantly associated with a higher CD4 cell count at diagnosis. Those who tested for routine reasons at routine sites had more negative attitudes to testing and a higher CD4 cell count at diagnosis. There was no statistically . significantly association between perceived behavioural control or subjective norm and CD4 cell count or between any of the TPB constructs and delay before testing. A higher perception of risk prior to testing was associated with delayed testing. The limitations and strengths of the study will be outlined, and the clinical, theoretical and research implications of the findings discussed. 3 ,
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:583366 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Hayward, Alison |
| Publisher | University of London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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