Psychosocial correlates of HIV protection motivation among black adolescents in Venda, South Africa

We assessed the usefulness of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and protection motivation theory (PMT) to predict intended condom use among 201 adolescents from Venda, South Africa. Results indicated that both the TPB and the PMT could significantly predict intended condom use, although the level of explained variance was limited. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that there was considerable overlap between. the TPB and the PMT in predicting condom use intention. In the regression analysis that used both the TPB and the PMT variables subjective norms and response efficacy were positively related to intended condom use. The results indicated that both the TPB and the PMT were valuable in explaining intended condom use among African adolescents. The TPB made clear that the social environment is an important contextual factor, whereas the PMT made clear that response efficacy is positively related to condom use intention. The results of this study indicated that social cognition models have some value in the analysis of condom use intention of African adolescents, but the role of other factors like myths about condoms should be further examined.