Abstract:

Despite the existence of many notable HIV/AIDS programs in Botswana, HIV spread and prevalence is still a concern. A good number of adolescents are not diagnosed and as such their HIV status remains unknown to them (Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS) III, 2008).  Socio-cognitive theories, such as the theory of planned behavior (TPB) have been successfully used to help inform behavioral change interventions in Western settings. There is however a lack of theory driven research in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Botswana and most of Sub-Saharan Africa. The applicability and suitability of socio-cognitive theories, including the TPB, have however been questioned in non-Western and, especially, African settings. The TPB could have important implications for community programs that implement social cognitive interventions for African adolescents. Interventions utilising the TPB are likely to be most successful in changing/influencing intention (Webb & Sheeran, 2006). Using data from a randomised control trial involving 756 Batswana in-school adolescents, the study will apply structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the applicability of the theory of planned behavior in HIV/AIDS prevention among adolescents in the Botswana context.