Intentions to Share Injection Paraphernalia: An Empirical Test of the AIDS Risk Reduction Model among Injection Drug Users

Abstract

The AIDS Risk Reduction Model is a theory-based representation of sequential psychosocial processes by which people may attempt to change their HIV risk behavior. These processes are said to occur in three stages: 1) labeling one's risk behavior as problematic, 2) forming an intention to change behavior, and 3) taking action to accomplish change. Cognitive and perceptual factors are said to influence progress across stages. This study tests the degree to which hypothesized relationships among factors at Stages 1 and 2 are consistent with cross-sectional data collected from a sample of HIV-negative injection drug users who reported recent sharing of drug injection paraphernalia (“works”). Findings indicate that intentions to share works less often in the future may be influenced directly by drug users’ perceived risk of infection, which in turn is influenced by their level of HIV knowledge, perceived susceptibility to HIV, and perceived peer norms regarding drug-related risk reduction.