HIV/AIDS knowledge has been rated as the most important
factor for HIV prevention. However, studies have also shown that knowledge
alone does not always translate into reduced risky sexual behavior (RSB).
Health locus of control (HLC) categorized as perceived control over health
status (internal locus of control) or attribution of health status to chance or
fate (external health locus of control) is a psychological construct that has
been shown to impact health outcomes including RSB. This study thus
investigated the relationship between HLC and RSB among Nigerian adolescents.
A cross-sectional survey design was employed among 361
adolescents from nine senior secondary schools selected through stratified
random sampling from Jos, Plateau State Nigeria. Data were collected between
August and October of 2008. Health Locus of Control Scale was used to
categorize individuals into having either an internal or external HLC. RSB was
assessed using the Brief HIV Screener (BHS). Descriptive statistics were
computed and Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences in BHS
scores by HLC categories. Odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios were calculated
for individual BHS question responses based on HLC.
Participants were 169 males (46.8%) and 192 females (53.2%)
with a mean age of 16.9. When grouped into HLC categories, 141 were internal
and 220 were external. The mean score on the BHS showed statistically
significant difference based on HLC (p=0.01). Odds for using a condom during
sexual intercourse were higher for adolescents with an internal HLC while
adolescents with an external HLC had significantly higher RSB scores.
Prevention programs targeted at adolescents should also aim to internalize
their HLC.
...Adolescents who attributed their health status to chance or
fate (external HLC) had significantly higher RSB scores compared to those with
an internal locus of control. Additionally, adolescents with an internal HLC
were significantly more likely to report using a condom during sexual
intercourse. Although RSB was related to gender and age with males engaging in
more RSB and RSB increasing with age, gender and age were not significantly
related to condom use. These findings support previous research examining HLC
and RSB among adolescents in the US and Western Europe, particularly condom
usage [6-8].
In this study, adolescents with an internal health
locus of control had lower mean scores for RSB than those with an external
locus of control. The implication of this is that when young people are made to
believe they control what happens to them in terms of health, they will engage
in less risky behavior. This can be explained by examining the relationship
between locus of control and health. Internal locus of control has been found
to be a meditating factor for taking actions to prevent health problems [13,15]. Wallston and Wallston assert that people
with an internal locus of control have a sense of responsibility for their own
health [13]. While those with an external locus of
control believe that fate, luck, random events and chance determines their
health status. Thus external loci of control people are less careful and
cautious about their health while internals are cautious and will take
deliberate steps to protect their health [12,16].
This hypothesis is supported by the finding in this
study that adolescents with an internal locus of control had significantly
higher odds of using a condom than those with an external locus of control.
Condom use was not related to age or gender; it was only related to HLC...
Full article at: http://goo.gl/nl4az5
By: Jennifer Pharr,1,2,* Victor Enejoh,3 Bertille Octavie Mavegam,1 Ayodotun Olutola,3 Haruna Karick,4 and Echezona E Ezeanolue2,5
1Department of Environmental and Occupational
Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
2HealthySunrise Foundation, USA
3Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical
Research, Nigeria
4Department of Psychology, University of
Jos, Nigeria
5Department of Pediatrics, University of
Nevada School of Medicine, USA
*Corresponding author: Department of Environmental and Occupational
Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV
89154, USA, Tel: 702-895-2006; Fax: 702-895-5573; Email: ude.vlnu@rrahp.refinneJ
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv insight
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