Denial of HIV/AIDS and preventive behaviour among Israeli adolescents

A national sample of 1082 Israeli adolescents, aged 14-18, was questioned on the following topics: Respondents' sexual habits and HIV/AIDS prevention behaviours, HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes, and six kinds of HIV/AIDS-related denial. The main results showed that infrequent condom use was associated with a high level of denial, denial of personal relevance and of responsibility being the most salient. These results suggest that denial may constitute a major factor in HIV/AIDS-related risk behaviours, with implications for intervention programmes aimed at adolescents. (C) 2000 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.