Generalizing a model of health behaviour change and AIDS stigma for use with sexually transmitted infection clinic patients in Cape Town, South Africa

We tested the Information/Motivation/Behavioural Skills (IMB) model of AIDS preventive behaviour in South Africa. Prospective path analyses were performed on measures collected from 131 men and 60 women with sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Cape Town. Results showed that IMB constructs collected at baseline predicted risk reduction behaviour 3 months later. Risk reduction intentions were positively associated with risk reduction self-efficacy and self-efficacy was in turn positively associated with protective behaviour 3 months later. In a second model, AIDS-related stigmas correlated inversely with AIDS knowledge and there was a trend toward AIDS stigmas correlating inversely with behavioural intentions. Accounting for AIDS-related stigmas did not improve model fit. These findings parallel similar tests of the IMB model in US samples and suggest that the IMB model may generalize to South Africa and may therefore be useful in guiding HIV risk reduction interventions.