| Abstract: | Fifty adults enrolled in an inner-city alcoholism clinic were interviewed to determine their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and transmission routes and to clarify their behavioral risk factors. Findings revealed that the sample had fairly good to excellent HIV/ AIDS knowledge. They possessed considerable misinformation about correct condom use, however, and knowledge levels were not correlated significantly with safer sexual practices. Men, younger women, and drinking clients engaged in more high risk sexual activities than did other respondents. The survey's findings have implications for AIDS prevention efforts with this population: (1) Assessment of differential HIV/AIDS risk factors should be incorporated routinely into alcoholism counseling; (2) interventions must be individualized to address specific risk factors and client beliefs; (3) specific skill development strategies that address negotiations in sexual encounters and which teach correct condom use should be added to AIDS information programs; and, (4) alcohol and other drug use must be linked explicitly to continued risk for HIV infection. |
