The effectiveness of a HIV/AIDS health promotion approach derived from the Health Belief Model
Date
2005-03
Authors
Tlou, Emmanuel Rammule
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The purpose if this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a HIV/AIDS health
promotion approach derived from the Health Belief Model (Becker and Maiman, 1975).
The Health Belief Model is one of the conceptual models used to explain health
compliance behaviour. According to the model an individual=s readiness to take action
and engage in health - related behaviour (safe sex in the case of the present study)
relative to a particular health condition (HIV/AIDS in the case of the present study) is a
function of three factors. The first factor relates to the individual=s beliefs or perceptions
of his/her likelihood of susceptibility to an illness as well as their perception of the
severity of the consequences of having the illness. The second factor is the perceived
benefit of action in contrast to the barrier to acting. The third factor relates to access to
cues for action, that is cues that trigger appropriate health behaviour.
The study was motivated by the observation that the incidence of HIV/AIDS in South
Africa continues to rise despite heightened educational efforts undertaken in the
workplace.
The research question was two-fold: Firstly, the study was to determine whether there
would be significant differences in HIV/AIDS health beliefs and health behaviour
between participants receiving a traditional HIV/AIDS workshop and those receiving a
cognitive restructuring workshop based on the Health Belief Model. Secondly, the study
was to determine whether there was a significant relationship between HIV/AIDS health
beliefs and HIV/AIDS health behaviour
To test hypotheses relating to differences in health beliefs and health behaviour as well
as the relationship between health beliefs and health behaviour, 78 employees in a
government department were divided into two groups. One group, the control group,
took part in a structured, lecture-type HIV/AIDS health promotion workshop. The other
group, the experimental group, took part in an unstructured workshop designed to examine commonly held beliefs about HIV/AIDS. Prior to participation in the workshops,
both groups completed the researcher designed AIDS Health Beliefs Questionnaire and
AIDS Health Behaviour Questionnaires. Both groups then completed the same
questionnaires one month after participating in the workshops and their pre-workshop
and post-workshop responses were compared using t-tests. The relationship between
health beliefs and health behaviour was examined using the Pearson r -correlation test.
There were no significant differences in health beliefs and health behaviour between the
two groups at pre- and post-workshop conditions. Only the control group females
showed a significant difference in health beliefs at post-workshop assessment. There
was an overall change in health beliefs at post-workshop assessment for the entire
population. There were no significant differences in health beliefs and health behaviour
between the control group and the experimental group. There was no significant
relationship between health beliefs and health behaviour. Significant relationships were
observed among the variables of the Health Belief Model. None of the health Belief
Model variables predicted health behaviour.
It was concluded that beliefs restructuring workshops had no effect on AIDS health
behaviour. This study failed to show that positive health beliefs result in positive health
behaviour.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die doel van hierdie studie was 'n ondersoek na die doeltreffendheid van die Gesondheidsoortuigingsmodel (Becker & Meyer, 1975) as opvoedingsparadigma in 'n Suid-Afriakaanse konteks. 'n Eksperimentele- en kontrolegroep is gebruik om die model te toets. Geen beduidende verskille in gesondheidsoortuiging en gesondheidsoptrede is by die twee groepe gevind nie. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat werkswinkels, wat poog am oortuigins te herstruktureer, geen beduidende invloed op MIV/ Vigs-gesondheidsoptrede het nie. Die studie dui daarop dat positiewe gesondheidsoortuigings nie tot positiewe gesondheidsoptrede lei nie. Moontlike redes vir hierdie gevolgtrekking word bespreek en voorstelle vir verdere studies word gemaak.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die doel van hierdie studie was 'n ondersoek na die doeltreffendheid van die Gesondheidsoortuigingsmodel (Becker & Meyer, 1975) as opvoedingsparadigma in 'n Suid-Afriakaanse konteks. 'n Eksperimentele- en kontrolegroep is gebruik om die model te toets. Geen beduidende verskille in gesondheidsoortuiging en gesondheidsoptrede is by die twee groepe gevind nie. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat werkswinkels, wat poog am oortuigins te herstruktureer, geen beduidende invloed op MIV/ Vigs-gesondheidsoptrede het nie. Die studie dui daarop dat positiewe gesondheidsoortuigings nie tot positiewe gesondheidsoptrede lei nie. Moontlike redes vir hierdie gevolgtrekking word bespreek en voorstelle vir verdere studies word gemaak.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
Keywords
HIV infections -- South Africa -- Prevention, AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Prevention, Health behavior -- South Africa, Health promotion -- South Africa, Health education -- South Africa, Health Belief Model, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management