Conoscere qualcuno con HIV/AIDS e intenzione di usare il preservativo: uno studio nella popolazione italiana.

The influence of knowing someone with HIV/AIDS on HIV preventive behaviors has become increasingly relevant in the literature, with controversial findings. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between knowing someone with HIV/AIDS and intention to use condoms in a representative sample of the Italian adult population. Drawing on a revision of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), risk perception, behavioral control regarding condom use, attitude toward condom and subjective norms were proposed as mediators of the relationship between knowledge of someone with HIV/AIDS and intention to use condoms. Data from 2018 telephone interviews were analyzed. Questions included socio-demographic information, knowing someone with HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS knowledge, HIV/AIDS perceived risk and intention to use condoms. The results of mediation models showed that knowing someone with HIV/AIDS had an indirect effect on intention to use condoms only through HIV risk perception, reducing it. Behavioral control over condom use, attitude toward condoms and risk perception were confirmed as the main predictors of intention to use condoms, providing further empirical support to TPB.