A comparison of the predictors of perceived susceptibility to HIV infection held by women and men using the NHIS AIDS supplement 1991

The purpose of this study was to investigate perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS in women and men based on the Health Belief Model. The public file NHIS AIDS Supplement 1991 was used for analysis. A multi-stage cluster sample of 42,725 individuals from every region in the U.S. was used. Thirty percent of the subjects indicated a perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS. Chi-square analysis found a difference (p.0.000) in perceived susceptibility in women and men. However, this may not be meaningful. It may be an artifact of the large N. Fewer women (28%) perceived themselves as susceptible than men (34%). Stepwise regression analysis disclosed nine variables, accounting for only 12% of the total variance, related to susceptibility: age, education, class of work, marital status, risk behavior, belief in condoms, and blood tests for immigration, a marriage license or to see if infected (sig. F =.0000). Chi-square analysis of these nine variables showed all of these were significantly different for women and men except blood tests for immigration and a marriage license. The results suggest women feel less susceptible to HIV/AIDS than men and may be less likely to change behavior. There remains considerable variance in perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS to be explained.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health Education

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

1994

Author dc:creator

• Ahmed, Christine Wilson

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Cissell, William

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Shipley, Roger
• Ward, Susan E.
• Fearing, Joseph

• Health and environmental sciences
• Education
• Immune deficiency

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11274/9211

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/9211