Determinants of condom use intentions and behavior among Turkish youth: a theoretically based investigation
Ozakinci, G.; Weinman, J.A.
Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention in Children and Youth 7(1): 73-95
2006
DOI: 10.1300/j499v07n01_05Document Number: 199547
The assumptions of two social cognition models, the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Health Belief Model, were examined in 2 samples of university students (mean age, 21.18 years) from Istanbul, Turkey: sexually active (n=89; 47 women and 42 men) and sexually inactive (n=113; 83 women and 30 men). For sexually inactive participants, perceived benefits of condom use and self-efficacy beliefs regarding condom use were associated with stronger condom use intentions. For sexually active participants, positive attitudes toward condom use were the most important determinant of condom use intentions. Intentions were strongly associated with condom use. Current findings provide important information for designing HIV/AIDS education campaigns and materials for Turkish youth with different sexual histories. The results suggest that the Theory of Planned Behavior has merit in informing health promotion campaigns in a Turkish setting.