HIV / AIDS knowledge , attitudes , and

The HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and sexual risk-taking behaviors of a sample of African-American and Caribbean college were investigated. The study also explored the relationship between the women’s self-esteem, self-efficacy, sexual communication, and religiosity and their HIV knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors. Findings revealed that while both groups of women were fairly knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention, their sexual risk-taking behaviors were still relatively high. The African-American women were more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS than were the Caribbean women. Also, the African-American women engaged in significantly fewer sexual risk-taking behaviors than their Caribbean female counterparts. No significant cultural group differences emerged on attitudes toward HIV/AIDS as a disease, HIV infected persons, and AIDS-related issues. A number of significant correlations were found. The study concludes that HIV/AIDS counseling and prevention approaches that are ethnic, cultural, and gender appropriate are vital for increasing both cognitive and behavioral changes in culturally diverse young women.