The application of Protection Motivation Theory in predicting AIDS prevention behaviors in drug addicts living in addiction treatment camps

Today, addiction, especially injectable addiction, is the most important risk factor for viral diseases transmitted through blood, such as AIDS, hepatitis C and B.

The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the predictive factors of AIDS prevention behaviors based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) in drug addicts living in addiction treatment camps in city of Rasht, North of Iran.

This cross-sectional-descriptive study was conducted on 320 drug-dependent patients living in addiction treatment camps in Rasht city. The samples were selected by simple random sampling method. The required data was collected through a questionnaire and then analyzed using multivariate linear regression model.

There was a very weak significant correlation between the HIV prevention behaviors and constructs of PMT including perceived self-efficacy (r=0.20), knowledge (r=0.16), reward (r=0.15), perceived response cost (r=0.14), perceived response efficiency, and fear (r=0.11). The PMT model accounted for 7% of variation in HIV prevention behaviors. Though, the model explained 38% of variance of protection motivation.

The PMT model could not predict HIV prevention behaviors. There are many other factors such as low intention that may interfere for adopting the desired behaviors. So, it is suggested to explore a wider range of psychosocial factors in future research.