Exploring the Relationship of Conspiracy Beliefs About HIV/AIDS to Sexual Behaviors and Attitudes Among African-American Adults

Overview

Journal J Natl Med Assoc

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2003 Dec 4

PMID 14651372

Citations 34

Authors

Laura M Bogart

Sheryl Thorburn Bird

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Conspiracy beliefs about HIV/AIDS have been endorsed by significant percentages of African Americans in prior research. However, almost no research has investigated the relationship of such beliefs to behaviors and attitudes relevant to HIV risk. In the present exploratory study, 71 African-American adults (aged 18-45; 61% female) in the United States participated in a national, cross-sectional telephone survey examining the relationship of HIV/AIDS conspiracy beliefs to sexual attitudes and behaviors. Results indicated significant associations between endorsement of a general HIV/AIDS government conspiracy and negative beliefs regarding condoms and greater numbers of sexual partners. Endorsement of HIV/AIDS treatment conspiracies was related to positive attitudes about condoms and greater condom use intentions. Findings suggest that conspiracy beliefs have implications for HIV prevention in African-American communities.

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