Abstract

URIBE RODRIGUEZ, Ana Fernanda; VERGARA VELEZ, Tatiana  and  BARONA, Claudia. Susceptibilities and self-efficacy concerning HIV/AIDS in adolescents in the city of Cali, Colombia. Rev.latinoam.cienc.soc.niñez juv [online]. 2009, vol.7, n.2, suppl.1, pp.1513-1533. ISSN 1692-715X.

The male and female adolescents are one of the populations with the highest risk for Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome, (HIV) and for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), due to their sexual practices and risk behaviors that expose them constantly to sexually transmitted diseases. Based upon the importance of prevention in both male and female youths, the aim of this study was to identify the susceptibility perception with reference to HIV/AIDS and the efficacy in the use of condoms by adolescents in the city of Santiago de Cali, Colombia. This research study was non-experimental and had a descriptive exploratory transversal design. The population sample consisted of 217 adolescents with ages ranging between 12 and 18 years, distributed into two groups (Montero & León, 2002). There were significant self-efficacy differences with reference to gender (p<0.003), age (p<0.005) and susceptibility with reference to gender (p<0.006). The conclusion was that the male and female youths with the highest predisposition for HIV/AIDS are male adolescents with ages ranging from 16 to 18 years, who belong in low socioeconomic strata; and that young women display a higher susceptibility and self-efficacy with reference to HIV/AIDS than males; a fact that possibly makes them more proactive in the prevention of diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Nevertheless, the data from this research study and the high HIV/AIDS indices in both male and female adolescents permit to think about the implementation of sexual and reproductive health prevention programs that take into account the real needs of adolescents, their socio-demographic characteristics (gender, age, stratum) and their psychopathological conditions.

Keywords : adolescents; susceptibility; self-efficacy; HIV/AIDS.

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