HIV knowledge and perceived risk on lack of condom use among youth in South Africa

Emelda Kaneli, University of the Witwatersrand

HIV continues to be a major health issue in South Africa and new infections are high among youth mainly due to the lack of condom use. In efforts to address this problem HIV knowledge and awareness campaigns were launched. While HIV knowledge has increased condom use remains low. Research based on the health belief model have found that perception of risk influences health behaviour. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between HIV knowledge, perceived risk of infection and condom use. The study will use the National Communion Survey of 2012 with a sample of 1795 youths aged 16-24. The analysis will consist of cross tabulations for the descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression to test the association. The study expects to find an association between perceived risk and condom use, but not with HIV knowledge as its increase has not increased condom use.