Cognitive and Demographic Factors That Predict Self-Efficacy to Use Condoms in Vulnerable and Marginalized Aboriginal Youth (Report‪)‬

Abstract: Evidence suggests that Aborignal youth are at higher risk for sexual health problems, including HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI), than are non-Aboriginal youth. Given that condom use is effective in preventing HIV/STI and that self-efficacy is predictive of condom use, it is noteworthy that there is so little research on self-efficacy to use condoms in Aboriginal youth. This study employed a community action research strategy to examine the relationship between a set of cognitive and demographic variables and self-efficacy to use condoms in a sample of vulnerable and marginalized Aboriginal youth (N = 68). We found that those individuals who reported having sex at a later age and who scored higher on a measure of assertive communication reported higher levels of self-efficacy to use condoms. Suggestions concerning how these results could be incorporated in education programs are discussed. Introduction