       Document 0155
 DOCN  M9550155
 TI    HIV risk factors for persons with serious mental illness.
 DT    9505
 AU    Knox MD; Boaz TL; Friedrich MA; Dow MG; Department of Community Mental
       Health, University of South; Florida's Florida Mental Health Institute,
       Tampa 33612-3899.
 SO    Community Ment Health J. 1994 Dec;30(6):551-63. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/95136667
 AB    HIV risk factors were assessed among 120 persons in treatment for
       serious mental illness. Although subjects had good general knowledge
       regarding HIV, many engaged in high risk behaviors. Condom use was
       infrequent among those who had multiple sexual partners, and sharing
       needles was common for those who used i.v. drugs. Clearly, factual
       knowledge about HIV was not sufficient to prevent risky behavior. Nearly
       half of the sample was categorized as at medium to high risk, and almost
       half of the participants, especially those at medium risk,
       underestimated their own level of risk. The results suggest that
       education and intervention strategies should focus on increasing the
       accuracy of the individual's risk assessment as well as changing
       attitudes towards condoms and improving skills in using condoms.
       Assessing personal risk and adopting risk-reduction strategies are the
       keys to successful AIDS prevention for persons with serious mental
       illness.
 DE    Adult  Condoms/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Female  Health Education  Human
       HIV Infections/PREVENTION & CONTROL/PSYCHOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION  HIV
       Seropositivity/PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
       Male  Patient Admission  Personality Assessment  Psychotic
       Disorders/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY/REHABILITATION  Risk Factors  Sex
       Behavior  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

