STD patients' knowledge about AIDS and attitudes toward condom use

Patients (N = 71) from a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in an urban setting were surveyed to determine their knowledge about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and attitudes toward condom use. Overall knowledge scores were high with a mean score of 22 on the 28-item true-false questionnaire. No statistical significance was found between AIDS-knowledge scores and condom-use behavior. The majority of subjects or their partners had STD symptoms and multiple partners within a 6-month period. Thirty percent of the respondents reported using condoms at least 25% of the time. In response to open-ended statements about condoms, 10 beliefs were mentioned most frequently. The majority of subjects reported protection against sexually transmitted disease and preventing pregnancy as the most important reasons for condom use. "Avoids getting AIDS" only ranked as the eighth most salient belief and few subjects with multiple partners in the previous 6-month period even cited this belief. Other significant beliefs about condom use included decreased feeling, worry about breakage, decreased pleasure for partner, uncomfortable, feeling safe, inconvenient, and not romantic. The most significant referent (normative belief) influencing condom-use decision making was "mother" in younger subjects and "sexual partner" for older subjects. The sexual partner had unfavorable attitudes toward condom use. These results indicate the need to incorporate attitudes and normative beliefs to change condom-use behavior.