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The health belief model and motivations for/against HIV-testing.

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Date

1999

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Abstract

This dissertation has made an attempt at exploring the psychological factors that motivates individuals into opting for or against undertaking an HIV-test. The Health Belief Model is used to ascertain its predictive powers towards the motivation for undertaking such a test. Literature on HIV-testing indicates non-exploration of voluntary HIV-testing, as opposed to massive reporting on mandatory HIV-testing. Therefore, the focus of this dissertation is on voluntary HIV-testing. The sample used for the study. comprised of antenatal mothers who were offered HIV/Aids education and then presented with an option of either undertaking the HIV-test, or not. The results of the study indicate that the Health Belief Model has failed in its predictive powers towards motivations for or against HIV-testing. However, the study provided valuable psychological factors that are associated with the decision to undertake the HIV-test, which will be important for future research on HIV/Aids and on the control in the spread of the disease.

Description

Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

Keywords

Health Belief Model., Theses--Psychology., Medical screening., HIV infections--Diagnosis--Moral and ethical aspects., HIV infections--Diagnosis--Social aspects., AIDS (Disease)--Diagnosis--Social aspects.

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