Yi-Hui Lee1, Ali Salman, Joyce J Fitzpatrick. 1. College of Nursing and Health, Wright State University-Miami Valley, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435-0001, USA. yi-hui.lee@wright.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: High incidence rates of HIV/AIDS infections among youth draw attention to the need for emphasizing the reduction of risky sexual behavior, a major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Few researchers have examined the relationship between self-efficacy for HIV/AIDS preventions, depressive symptoms, and adolescent risky sexual behavior. This insufficient understanding limits nurses' ability to provide effective programs for reducing adolescents' risky sexual behaviors. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the relationships among HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, and risky sexual behavior in Taiwanese adolescents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlational study. SETTINGS: Seven vocational high schools located in a metropolitan area in southern Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 16-18-year-old vocational high school Taiwanese adolescents (n=734) participated in this study. METHODS: Several self-administrated questionnaires, including HIV/AIDS Preventive Self-efficacy scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire, and a form for demographic data, were used to collect data. RESULTS: Taiwanese adolescents who had higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy scores had less overall risky sexual behavior. Adolescents who had less depressive symptoms had higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. More depressive symptoms were correlated to more risky sexual behavior. CONCLUSION: Improving Taiwanese adolescents' HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy could be useful to reduce risky sexual behaviors in this population. Results of this study may assist nurses in understanding factors related to adolescents HIV/AIDS related risky sexual behavior and its' preventions. However, future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether depressive symptoms is a major influential factor that might interfere with the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
BACKGROUND: High incidence rates of HIV/AIDS infections among youth draw attention to the need for emphasizing the reduction of risky sexual behavior, a major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Few researchers have examined the relationship between self-efficacy for HIV/AIDS preventions, depressive symptoms, and adolescent risky sexual behavior. This insufficient understanding limits nurses' ability to provide effective programs for reducing adolescents' risky sexual behaviors. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the relationships among HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, and risky sexual behavior in Taiwanese adolescents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlational study. SETTINGS: Seven vocational high schools located in a metropolitan area in southern Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 16-18-year-old vocational high school Taiwanese adolescents (n=734) participated in this study. METHODS: Several self-administrated questionnaires, including HIV/AIDS Preventive Self-efficacy scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire, and a form for demographic data, were used to collect data. RESULTS: Taiwanese adolescents who had higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy scores had less overall risky sexual behavior. Adolescents who had less depressive symptoms had higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. More depressive symptoms were correlated to more risky sexual behavior. CONCLUSION: Improving Taiwanese adolescents' HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy could be useful to reduce risky sexual behaviors in this population. Results of this study may assist nurses in understanding factors related to adolescents HIV/AIDS related risky sexual behavior and its' preventions. However, future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether depressive symptoms is a major influential factor that might interfere with the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
Authors: Peter Memiah; Lillian Nkinda; Mtebe Majigo; Felix Humwa; Zelalaem Haile; Kennedy Muthoka; Aisha Zuheri; Anne Kamau; Lucy Ochola; Gabriel Buluku Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-06-10 Impact factor: 3.295