Perceived risk of the harmful use of alcohol among young adults in the context of HIV&AIDS in Kenya

ABSTRACT

Background: This study examined factors associated with perceived risks for the harmful use of alcohol among young adults in the context of HIV and AIDS. This is the alcohol use that affects physical and mental health and has social consequences. Informed by the protection motivation theory and the social cognitive theory, the study focused on the motivational and cognitive factors that influence risk perception, which includes knowledge, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancies.

Methods: Data were gathered through a self-administered survey among young adults (n = 402) who were recruited using the intercept method (Median = 22 years, Mean = 22.5 years).

Results: Key findings show a low level of risk perception for the harmful use of alcohol and a high level of alcohol-related self-efficacy. Participants had moderately high knowledge about HIV and AIDS, low HIV-related risk perception but high HIV-related self-efficacy. There was a correlation between alcohol risk perception and perceived risk of HIV and AIDS. Significant determinants of alcohol risk perception included sex-related alcohol expectancies, HIV risk perception, and HIV self-efficacy. Sex-related alcohol expectancies were correlated with risk perception for HIV infection and the harmful use of alcohol.

Conclusion: The study provides insights on factors that public health and communication specialists must consider when communicating about the harmful use of alcohol. Enhancing risk perception and self-efficacy for the harmful alcohol use and communicating in the context of HIV and AIDS in high-risk environments is crucial. Furthermore, addressing sex-related alcohol expectancies may lower the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among alcohol consumers.

KEYWORDS:

• Young adults
• alcohol consumption
• HIV & AIDS
• communicating risk
• knowledge
• selfefficacy
• Kenya

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Nancy Muturi is a professor at Kansas State University teaching health communication, theory, gender issues and several courses in strategic communication. She has several years of research and professional experience in health communication, specifically in Africa, Caribbean and among ethnic minorities in the United States.