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Determinants of individual AIDS risk perception: knowledge, behavioural control, and social influence

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  • Laura Bernardi

    (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany)

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa an almost universal awareness of AIDS lethality and of HIV sexual transmission mechanism coexists together with a reluctance in adopting consequent preventive measures as protected sexual intercourse. The socio-psychological literature on health-related behaviour emphasises the perception of being at risk of HIV/AIDS infection as being one of the necessary conditions for preventive behaviour to be adopted. Analysing data from the Kenya Diffusion and Ideational Change (KDIC) Project, this paper investigates the determinants of the reported degree of risk perception of getting infected by HIV/AIDS. In particular, adopting a social interaction approach, we argue that individual risk perception is shaped by social network influences. We use information about conversation related to AIDS and HIV infection risk occurring among individuals and their social network members. We are able to show to what extent neglecting individuals´ reciprocal influences into explanatory models leads to a mis-estimation of the weight of other factors, as AIDS related knowledge and behavioural factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Bernardi, 2002. "Determinants of individual AIDS risk perception: knowledge, behavioural control, and social influence," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2002-029, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-2002-029
    DOI: 10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2002-029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. L. Embleton & E. Ruggiero & C. H. Logie & D. Ayuku & P. Braitstein, 0. "Piloting an evidence-based intervention for HIV prevention among street youth in Eldoret, Kenya," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 0, pages 1-11.
    2. Ueyama, Mika & Yamauchi, Futoshi, 2008. "Social learning, selection, and HIV infection: Evidence from Malawi," IFPRI discussion papers 817, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. L. Embleton & E. Ruggiero & C. H. Logie & D. Ayuku & P. Braitstein, 2020. "Piloting an evidence-based intervention for HIV prevention among street youth in Eldoret, Kenya," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(4), pages 433-443, May.
    4. Zhengtao Li & Henk Folmer & Jianhong Xue, 2016. "Perception of Air Pollution in the Jinchuan Mining Area, China: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Hans-Peter Kohler & Jere Behrman & Susan Watkins, 2007. "Social networks and HIV/AIDS risk perceptions," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 44(1), pages 1-33, February.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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