Preferred sources of AIDS information, risk perceptions, and risk behaviors among inner-city community college...

To understand preferred sources of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) information and level of worry about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among community college students, a survey of 102 students in an inner-city community college was conducted. The survey requested information on preferred sources of information about AIDS, risk behaviors, and level of worry about HIV infection compared with other life risks. Forty-six per cent of respondents had engaged in risk behaviors for AIDS. Of those who were sexually active, 81% acknowledged not always using a condom. Students noted that they were more likely to believe AIDS information from a health professional than from a friend, relative, teacher, clergy, or celebrity. Overall, getting AIDS ranked third on a list of life worries, ranking only behind getting bad grades and the death of a family member. For students who identified themselves as black or Latino, however, getting AIDS ranked first on a list of life risks. For those students who reported highrisk behavior for getting HIV, getting AIDS also ranked first on a list of life worries. We conclude that those students at whom messages about risk status have been targeted are most likely to report being more worried about getting AIDS than about other adverse life events. It remains unclear, however, whether heightened levels of worry about HIV actually translate into changes in risk behavior.