Analyzing Health Belief Model for AIDS Prevention: Assignment

This assignment explores the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a framework for understanding and predicting health behaviors, using AIDS as a specific example. The assignment delves into the core components of HBM, including perceived susceptibility (the individual's belief about their risk), perceived severity (the perceived seriousness of the condition), perceived benefits (the advantages of taking action), perceived barriers (the obstacles to taking action), cues to action (triggers for behavior change), and self-efficacy (the individual's confidence in their ability to take action). The assignment examines how these factors influence an individual's decisions regarding health behaviors, such as using condoms to prevent AIDS. It provides examples of how individuals might perceive each of these factors and how these perceptions can affect their health-related choices. The assignment also includes references to relevant research and resources to support the analysis of the Health Belief Model.

Health belief model
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Introduction
Ghaffari et al1 stated that Health belief model refers to a framework which scientists explore to
understand and predict health behaviors of a given condition. HBM is based on the idea that
one’s willingness to change their health behavior mainly depend on specific factors. It mainly
bank on two primary values which include individual’s willingness to avoid the disease or to be
well and the belief that specific health efforts to the victim can prevent undesirable complication.
For the purpose of this assignment, it will use AIDS as an example of the disease and apply
health belief concept to explore what an individual might be feeling and thinking and the
recommended health action. HBM follows the following ideas:
Perceived susceptibility
Khani Jeihooni et al2 illustrated that perceived susceptibility illustrate individual’s belief about
his or her chances of getting a given health condition. For example AIDS in this scenario, the
individual perception is necessary as it helps in deciding the require action to control the disease.
For instance, an individual who do not think that they at a risk of getting AIDS from unprotected
sexual intercourse, are unlikely to make use of a condom. For example an individual may say
that “Condoms are immoral, I do not need condoms every time I have sex.” The following
picture illustrate the same idea.

Perceived severity
According to Vitalis6, Perceived severity refers to the probability that and individual will change
his or her health behaviors to prevent further complications. However, the action depend on how
serious the individual view the consequences of the health behavior. For example, an individual
who view the consequences of AIDS will say that “Having AIDS will seriously affect my
health.” Consequently, individuals who are less likely to consider using condoms because they
may be thinking AIDS is a minor disease. However it increases AIDS pandemic.

Perceived benefits.
In this concept, the affected individual do not want to leave certain behavior that leads to the
health condition if he or she is not getting any benefit in return. For example, for AIDS affected
individuals it is difficult for them to practice safe sex, if they do not see the way it may make
their lives better. For example, “I know that making use of condoms will protect me from
contracting AIDS.”
Perceived barriers
Ofori5 stated that one of the reasons why people who are at risk of getting AIDs do not change
their behaviors is that they think that changing the health behavior is going to be difficult. For
instance it may be requiring other costs. For example an individual who is at risk of getting
AIDS may say that “Using condoms is a sign of mistrust to a partner.” The barrier may make it
difficult for them to start using condoms.

Cues of action
According to Li et al4, cues of action are external activities that initiate willingness to make
changes in health behaviors. For instance having condom posters on a public vehicle or having
one of the relatives to the victim of unsafe sex dying of AIDS. It makes an individual to move
from unwillingness to change to actually taking an action. An example of a promotion that warns
people about AIDS is as follows.
Self-efficacy
This is the individual’s capability to take action. Khumsaen et al3 stated that it involves one’s
feeling that he or she is capable to make a decision that bring a health change (5). For example,
an individual at risk of getting HIV/AIDS can say that “I have seen the consequences of avoiding
condoms, I will start using them.”

References
1. Ghaffari M, Gharlipour Z, Rakhshanderou S. Related factors of the preventing behaviors
of HIV/AIDS among young people: Applying the Extended Health Belief Model
(EHBM). International Journal of Pediatrics. 2016 Aug 1;4(8):2317-28.
2. Khani Jeihooni A, Arameshfard S, Hatami M, Mansourian M, Kashfi SH, Rastegarimehr
B, Safari O, Amirkhani M. The effect of educational program based on health belief
model about HIV/AIDS among high school students. International Journal of Pediatrics.
2018 Mar 1;6(3):7285-96.
3. Khumsaen N, Stephenson R. Beliefs and perception about HIV/AIDS, self-efficacy, and
HIV sexual risk behaviors among young Thai men who have sex with men. AIDS
Education and Prevention. 2017 Apr;29(2):175-90.
4. Li X, Lei Y, Wang H, He G, Williams AB. The health belief model: a qualitative study to
understand high-risk sexual behavior in Chinese men who have sex with men. Journal of
the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. 2016 Jan 1;27(1):66-76.
5. Ofori KN. HIV Testing And Counselling Among The Youth Of Fanteakwa District Of
Ghana: An Application Of The Health Belief Model (Doctoral dissertation, University of
Ghana).
6. Vitalis D. Predicting adherence to antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women in
Guyana: Utility of the Health Belief Model. International journal of STD & AIDS. 2017
Jul;28(8):756-65.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=909iIhcerOk