Predicting Intentions and Condom Use Among Latino College Students

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To understand the factors that predict Latinos'risk-associated behavior, this study examined whether favorable beliefs about condoms and select moderator variables are related to stronger intentions to use condoms and more reported condom use at most recent vaginal and anal intercourse among Latino college students. Latino students who attended a public university in the northeast United States were mailed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Results from completed questionnaires (n = 199) indicated that students who perceived greater partner approval of condom use, perceived greater peer approval of condom use, and expressed confidence in their ability to control themselves reported stronger intentions to used condoms. Perceived partner approval and impulse control was related to self-reported condom use at most recent vaginal intercourse, impulse control was related to self-reported condom use at most recent vaginal intercourse, and impulse control was related to self-reported condom use at most recent anal intercourse. These relations did not significantly differ by Hispanic ethnicity, religiosity, gender, or age. Results suggest that normative beliefs and control beliefs regarding impulse control may be especially salient in both predicting and changing condom use behavior and should be incorporated into nursing assessments and tailored interventions.

Section snippets

Theoretical Framework

A key strategy in curbing the spread of HIV is the implementation of behavioral interventions. A growing body of evidence from randomized controlled trials suggests that HIV risk reduction interventions that have an explicit theoretical framework can reduce HIV risk-associated sexual behavior (National Institutes of Health, 1997). However, few randomized controlled trials of HIV prevention interventions have been conducted with Latino populations. As we develop interventions to help Latinos

Sample

The participants were 199 Latino students (146 women and 53 men) from an inner-city area of northern New Jersey. About 40.4% of the students were Puerto Rican, 26.3% were South American, 16.2% were Cuban, 6.1% were Central American, 2.5% were Dominican, and 1.5% were Mexican. Some students reported being of more than one Hispanic ethnicity; thus, the totals exceed 100%. Participants' mean age was 23.2 (SD = 5.2) years. About 17.6% were freshman, 17.1% were sophomores, 22.1% were juniors, 25.6%

Sexual Behavior

About 84.1% of the respondents reported that they had had vaginal intercourse on at least one occasion. Their mean age at first vaginal intercourse was 17.64 (SD = 2.88). About 65.0% of the respondents reported having had vaginal intercourse in the previous 3 months, and only 7.8% of respondents reported having more than one sexual partner during that period. About 51.6% of the sexually experienced respondents reported using a condom the last time they had vaginal intercourse. About 35.9% of

Discussion

This study identifies several beliefs related to intentions to use condoms among Latino college students. Multiple regression analyses revealed significant effects of normative beliefs regarding sexual partners and peers and control beliefs regarding impulse control as predictors of intentions. More specifically, the students who perceived greater partner approval of condom use, those who perceived greater peer approval of condom use, and those who expressed greater confidence in their ability

Implications for Nursing Practice

Results of this study have important implications for nursing practice. It is well documented that sexually transmitted HIV infection has disproportionately affected Latinos and that the use of condoms can provide protection against sexually transmitted infection. The present results, then, can be seen as supporting the view that nursing interventions to reduce HIV risk with Latino college students must address normative beliefs of sexual partners and peers and control beliefs about impulse

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that the theory of planned behavior may be applied to an important HIV-associated behavior among Latino college students: condom use during sexual intercourse. Additional research is needed to understand condom use during heterosexual anal intercourse. The theory of planned behavior provides a potentially useful conceptual framework to guide both research and practice with this population.

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    Copyright © 2002 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.