EXPANDING THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR: THE INFLUENCE OF PERSONAL NORMS ON CONDOM USE AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE IN GHANA

¹Dinah Baah-Odoom and ²Gerard A. Riley

¹School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

²School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, United Kingdom

Email: d.baahodoom@yahoo.com, G.A.Riley@bham.ac.uk

ABSTRACT

Personal norms are standards and values (e.g. moral values) that the individual uses to evaluate the worth of behaviours.  Research suggests that people are inclined to behave in ways that are in accordance with these norms, and to avoid behaviours that are discordant.  This study investigated the role of personal norms in explaining intended condom use in a sample of 460 young people in Ghana, aged 15-28.  Participants completed a questionnaire that assessed the subjective norm, perceived behavioural control and attitudes (i.e. the standard components of the theory of planned behaviour).  It also assessed personal norms, intended condom use, and previous actual condom use.  Intended condom use was significantly correlated with actual condom use; and personal norms explained a significant amount of the variance in intended condom use over and above that explained by the standard components of the TPB.  Programmes that seek to promote the use of condoms amongst young people should address the issue of the norms that young people use to evaluate condom-related behaviours. 

Key words: HIV/AIDS, condoms, personal values, sexual risk taking, theory of planned behaviour