Beliefs as predictors of condom use by injecting drug users in treatment

This study was conducted to clarify (1) the extent to which health beliefs selected from Protection Motivation Theory can combine to correctly classify 72 injecting drug users (IDUs) as condom users or non-users and (2) which of the beliefs (‘vulnerability to a regular partner’, ‘vulnerability to a casual partner’, ‘self-efficacy’, ‘response efficacy’, ‘response costs’ and ‘social norms’) were most influential in this distinction. Results of a logistic regression indicated that these beliefs were significant predictors of condom use. Overall, 83.3% of participants were correctly classified according to condom use, with condom ‘non-users’ being more accurately predicted (94.0%) than ‘users’ (59.1%). ‘Vulnerability to a regular partner’ and ‘social norms’ were significant multivariate and univariate predictors of condom use, and ‘response costs’ were significant univariate predictors. IDUs were confident of their ability to use condoms, considered themselves highly vulnerable to HIV infection from casual partners and were confident in the efficacy of condoms to protect them from AIDS. However, the majority of IDUs were not condom users, particularly with ‘regular’ partners. Findings suggest that HIV prevention programmes should target beliefs regarding risks from known partners, perceived norms and negative consequences of condom use in order to increase condom use by IDUs in treatment.