Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
2 Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran,
3 Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran,
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is one of the main efforts for the prevention
of high‑risk sexual behavior, including HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aim of
this study was to determine cognitive determinants related to voluntary counseling and HIV testing
among Iranian adults based on the integrative model of behavioral prediction (IMBP).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was conducted in 2018 among Iranian
adults with high‑risk sexual behaviors, including drug abuse and unprotected sex, in western Iran.
A total of 300 adults were randomly selected to participate voluntarily in this study. Participants filled
out a self‑administered questionnaire, including the background data and IMBP constructs. Data were
analyzed by SPSS version 21, using statistical treatments, such as bivariate correlations, Chi‑square
test, t‑test, and logistic regression at a 95% significant level.
RESULTS: Almost 73.3% of the participants had a history of VCT. The highest probability of VCT
use was in participants who were in high level of VCT skills (odds ratio: 9.635; 95% confidence
interval [CI]: 3.255, 28.514]), following environmental constraints (odds ratio: 6.274; 95% CI: 2.166,
18.171). Furthermore, the IMBP constructs accounted for 85% of the variations in the outcome
measure of the VCT use intention.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the result, it appears that the design and implementation of educational
programs to improve upon skills and environmental constraints toward VCT use among adults with
high‑risk behaviors could be useful to the promotion of VCT.
Keywords
attitudes of Senegalese sailors about HIV/AIDS. Int Marit Health
2013;64:148‑53.
2. Oppong Asante K, Oti‑Boadi M. HIV/AIDS knowledge among
undergraduate university students: Implications for health
education programs in Ghana. Afr Health Sci 2013;13:270‑7.
3. Mafigiri R, Matovu JK, Makumbi FE, Ndyanabo A, Nabukalu D,
Sakor M, et al. HIV prevalence and uptake of HIV/AIDS
services among youths (15‑24 years) in fishing and neighboring
communities of Kasensero, Rakai district, South Western Uganda.
BMC Public Health 2017;17:251.
4. Tabasi Darmiyan A, Zareban I, Masuodi G, Shahrakipour M. The
perceived feelings of AIDS patients toward their illness and its
stigmatization. J Qual Res Health Sci 2014;2:346‑57.
5. Bastami F, Zareban E, Beiranvand A, Vahedi S. Effect of
educational pamphlet on knowledge and attitude of non‑medical
students about aids in university of Zabol in 2008. Health Syst
Res 2012;8:1027‑39.
6. Shahinfar J, Masroornia M, Majlesi F. Knowledge, attitudes
toward aids/HIV and its risk factor in applicant for drivers’ health
card referred to health center of Bojnurd, Iran 2011. JNKUMS
2013;5:71‑81.
7. http://www.kums.ac.ir/fa/news/25938/.HIV/AIDS2016.
[Access on 12 December 2017].
8. Onsomu EO, Moore D, Abuya BA, Valentine P, Duren‑Winfield V.
Importance of the media in scaling‑up HIV testing in Kenya.
SAGE Open 2013;3:1‑12. [doi: 10.1177/2158244013497721].
9. Elfeno R, Yimam E. Assessment of knowledge, attitude and
practice towards VCT, among Jimma teachers training college
students, Jimma town Oromia region, Southwestern Ethiopia.
Int J Educ Res Technol 2015;6:61‑73.
10. Omer S, HaidarJ. Applicability of the theory of planned behavior
in predicting intended use of voluntary HIV Counseling and
Testing services among teachers of Harari Region, Ethiopia.
Ethiop J Health Dev 2010;24:96‑102. [doi: 10.4314/ejhd.
v24i2.62957].
11. Gu J, Lau JT, Tsui H. Psychological factors in association with
uptake of voluntary counselling and testing for HIV among
men who have sex with men in Hong Kong. Public Health
2011;125:275‑82.
12. Kakoko DC, Astrøm AN, Lugoe WL, Lie GT. Predicting intended
use of voluntary HIV counselling and testing services among
Tanzanian teachers using the theory of planned behaviour. Soc
Sci Med 2006;63:991‑9.
13. Diteweg H, Van Oostwaard A, Tempelman H, Vermeer A,
Appels M, Van der Schaaf MF, et al. AIDS awareness and VCT
behaviour: An application of the integrated model of behaviour
prediction. Health SA Gesondheid 2013;18:1‑10.
14. Mirzaei‑Alavijeh M, Zolghadr R, Fattahi M, Jalilian F.
Demographic characteristics associated with vulnerability of oral
diseases among primary school students in Southern of Iran. Int
J Pediatr 2017;5:6555‑62.
15. Jalilian F, Moazami P, Mirzaei‑Alavijeh M, Moazami AM, Jalili C.
Sensation seeking and the intention to cheating among college
students: An application of the theory of planned behavior. Res
J Appl Sci 2016;11:645‑9.
16. Baghiani Moghadam M, MirzaeiAlavijeh M, Zolghadr R.
Knowledge, risk perceptions and behavioral intentions among
elementary school teachers of Yazd regarding hepatitis A.
Govaresh 2012;17:84‑90.
17. Mirzaei‑Alavijeh M, Ahmadi‑Jouybari T, Vaezi M, Jalilian F.
Prevalence, cognitive and socio‑demographic determinants of
prostate cancer screening Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2018;19:1041‑6.
18. Mirzaei‑Alavijeh M, Ghorbani P, Jalilian F. Socio‑cognitive
determinants of the mammography screening uptake among
Iranian women Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2018;19:1351‑5.
19. Yzer M. The integrative model of behavioral prediction as a
tool for designing health messages. In: Health Communication
Message Design: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
2012. p. 21‑40.
20. Fishbein M, Ajzen I. Predicting and Changing Behavior: The
Reasoned Action Approach. New York: Taylor and Francis Group;
2010. p. 399.
21. Robbins R, Niederdeppe J. Using the integrative model of
behavioral prediction to identify promising message strategies to
promote healthy sleep behavior among college students. Health
Commun 2015;30:26‑38.
22. Rhodes F, Stein JA, Fishbein M, GoldsteinRB, Rotheram‑Borus MJ.
Using theory to understand how interventions work:
Project RESPECT, condom use, and the integrative model. AIDS
Behav 2007;11:393‑407.
23. Nguzo JK. Communication Determinants of Condom use for
HIV and AIDS Prevention among the Youth. Kilifi County,
Kenya: College of Human Resource Development, Jomo
Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology; 2017.
Available from: http://www.hdl.handle.net/123456789/2893.
[Access on 8 January 2018].
24. Myers T, Worthington C, Haubrich DJ, Ryder K, Calzavara L.
HIV testing and counseling: Test providers’ experiences of best
practices. AIDS Educ Prev 2003;15:309‑19.
25. Swanepoel P. Persuading South Africans at Risk of HIV/AIDS
to Voluntarily Present Themselves for Counselling, Testing
and Referral (VCT): Using Theory and Empirical Evidence in
Formative Research for VCT Message Design, Unpublished
Working Paper. University of South Africa; 2004.
)