Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #2272 - Why do I do what I do? Motivational determinants of risk taking | ||||
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Session: 18.2: Why do I do what I do? Motivational determinants of risk taking (Symposium) on Wednesday @ 14.30-16.00 in C202 Chaired by Maria Koulentianou, Joseph Lau Authors: Presenting Author: Prof Ilse Elisabeth Plattner - University of Botswana, Botswana |
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| Aim: Studies based on focus group discussion suggest that a barrage of information about HIV and AIDS may have the negative effect of young people feeling “tired” of the messages about the risk of HIV infection. This may result in people ignoring HIV and AIDS messages and engaging in risky sexual behaviours. This study aimed (1) to develop and test a measurement for HIV and AIDS “fatigue” and (2) to explore the extent to which (a)young people in Botswana experience HIV and AIDS “fatigue” and (b) HIV and AIDS fatigue is associated with risky sexual behaviours. HIV and AIDS fatigue was defined as a state of mind in which a person (i) feels oversaturated with information pertaining to HIV and AIDS, (ii) has lost interest in HIV and AIDS related matters, and (iii) lacks motivation to prevent HIV infection (HIV prevention fatigue). | ||||
| Method / Issue: HIV and AIDS fatigue was operationalised through measures of HIV/AIDS information saturation, interest in HIV/AIDS, and HIV prevention fatigue. These measures were developed from results of a focus group discussion initially conducted in this study (Cronbach’s alphas ranged from 0.71 to 0.86) and presented in a questionnaire together with variables measuring sexual risk behaviour, perception of HIV infection in the context of ART, fatalistic attitude towards HIV/AIDS, HIV status, and demographic background. A convenience sample of 173 mainly social science students taking psychology courses was ed (69.7% females mean age 21.11 years). | ||||
| Results / Comments: Contrary to the high levels of HIV and AIDS fatigue suggested by the analysis of the focus group discussion, most respondents scored at a low to moderate level of information saturation, lack of interest in HIV/AIDS, and HIV prevention fatigue. Information saturation and lack of interest in HIV/AIDS were not associated with sexual risk behaviour and any of the other variables. However, when analysing only the sexually active respondents (N = 103 58.6% females), those respondents who reported not having used a condom at their last sexual intercourse had significantly higher scores in HIV prevention fatigue (p = .018) than their counterparts who had used a condom. Similarly, respondents who reported that owing to the availability of ART they had less safe sex also had higher scores in HIV prevention fatigue (p = .001). | ||||
| Discussion: The findings suggest that HIV prevention fatigue may put sexually active youth at risk of HIV infection. The findings also have methodological implications as respondents may tend to show much lower levels of HIV and AIDS fatigue when confronted with questionnaire items than with a focus group discussion method the group dynamics of a focus group discussion may tend to exaggerate the extent of HIV and AIDS fatigue. | ||||
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