The quantitative findings indicated high levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, self-concept and self-efficacy. Risky sexual behaviour was measured in terms of condom use and the number of sexual partners in the 12 months prior to the study with males reporting significantly more risky sexual behaviour. More males (70% vs. 43 % females) reported no condom use when engaging in sex. More males (62 % vs. 28 % females) reported having had two or more sexual partners in the 12 months prior to the study. Results also suggested that an increase in knowledge of HIV/AIDS would predict an increase in the use of condoms particularly for males. Lower self-efficacy seemed to predict an increase in the number of sexual partners for males. The focus group discussions highlighted students' views of HIV/AIDS knowledge in relation to their sexual practices, attitudes and sexual decision-making. Influences such as personal factors (self-concept and self-efficacy), social factors (e.g. peer influences, gender, and status) and environmental factors (e.g. media) were investigated. Participants also commented on the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS campaigns and the adequacy in provision of health services at college and community level. From the findings, guidelines were developed which may be used to reflect on current intervention programmes and may be considered when developing future interventions programmes, policies, or campaigns in promoting safer sexual practices amongst youth as a means of addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In order to test for factors predicting AIDS-preventive safe sexual behavior, a battery comprising a demographic questionnaire, an AIDS Self-Efficacy questionnaire, a Sexual Behavior Index, and an AIDS Awareness Survey were administered to 118 undergraduate students (ages 19-28, 93% African American) at a predominantly African American state-supported university in the southeastern US. Possible predictors tested were gender, self-efficacy, perceived self-efficacy while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and source of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Under multiple linear regression, there were statistically significant correlations between each of these predictor variables and safe sexual behavior. Under a full model regression, self-efficacy was the only significant factor to predict safe sex practices. The study supported the effectiveness of the university's system of programs to provide HIV information to students. Implications for nursing are discussed.

Based on the findings of a research project conducted by the World Health Organisation, this book contains unpublished material on AIDS-related knowledge and sexual behaviour in countries in Africa, Asia and South America, including: Cote d'Ivoire; Kenya; Lesotho; Mauritius; Tanzania; Sri Lanka; Singapore; Thailand and Brazil. The book provides an in-depth comparative analysis of the findings from 16 key surveys in the original research programme, the aim of which was to identify baseline levels of sexual and other risk behaviours. The text is intended to be of use to a wide range of readers, including those working in health education, social and behavioural research, anthropology, social medicine and sexual behaviour research.