The objective of this paper is to understand the intended sexual and condom behaviour patterns among teenage higher secondary school students in India. To achieve this, variables including perceived norms, perceived peer group norms, risk behaviour patterns, perceived chances of getting AIDS and relevant sociodemographic variables were regressed on intended sexual behaviour. Regression of actual sexual behaviour was carried out with perceived norms, perceived peer group norms and intended sexual behaviour as the independent variables. In this paper a conceptual model has been framed based on the theory of reasoned action, health belief model and self-efficacy theory. Cumulative scores are computed for perceived norms, perceived peer group norms, risk behaviour patterns, opinion on handling condoms and perceived chances of getting AIDS. Along with these variables, possible confounding variables such as age, gender, type of family, mother's education and father's education were considered for their effect on intended sexual and condom behaviour. The results revealed that perceived norms and perceived peer group norms showed significant association with intended sexual behaviour and actual sexual behaviour and that children of more highly educated parents are less likely to engage in sexual activities in their adolescent years.
This is a secondary data set of a study conducted in 1996 among 1230 Indian students in the 11th and 12th grades in Bombay. The aim of the study is to examine the relationship of knowledge, health beliefs, attitudes, and risk behaviors to HIV /STD risk intentions among Indian adolescents and also to examine predictive utility of the Health Belief Model (HBM). Correlations, multiple regression, and logit regression were applied to predict the variables related to the HBM dimensions. The overall explanatory power of the models for either dimension of the HBM or preventive intention with knowledge about HIV /STD was modest. These results suggest that either the models are lacking some important variables or the measurement of key variables is inadequate. Another limitation is that the data collection tool was a secondary subset, and only some relevant questions were chosen to examine the aim of the study. The HBM is partially, but significantly, related to the likelihood of recommendation of preventive intention changes. Individual perception of a disease is more likely to depend upon the language spoken at home because Indian adolescents may assimilate health messages more completely when those messages are conveyed in the local language. Parent education levels do not influence preventive intention changes. However, it was observed that a low level of maternal education encouraged children's preventive intention. Girls especially have shown a higher intention to practice safer sex behaviors. Knowledge about HIV I STD appears to influence preventive intention to practice safer sex behaviors. It is very important to teach Indian adolescents the proper use of condoms, and such education should be given in the local language. Indian male adolescents are more likely to report that they engage in risky behavior than female adolescents. Indian adolescents need greater access to relevant health education.
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