Skills for Reduction of Risk Behaviour

CAHIV
Hrvatska udruga za oboljele od HIVa

19 August 2005

The risk for infection with HIV virus increases in cases where condoms are not used or if drug-users share needles. The success in the reduction of risk behaviour depends on the existence of well-defined behavioural skills. These skills may be technical, interpersonal and self-management skills.

The use of condom in sexual intercourse is the most common recommendation by advisors in terms of reduction of risk of HIV infection. Nonetheless, the correct use of condoms remains a relatively complex skill and a person with some experience in use of condoms may list a number of problems related to the efficiency of putting a condom, taking it off, etc.

HIV infection risk is always included in a number of interpersonal relations; it takes two (sexual partner or drug-use partner) to have an infection. The interpersonal relations, augmented by HIV risk-intensive behaviour, may seriously complicate the efforts at prevention.

Having in mind that the HIV risk behaviour always enters the framework of interpersonal relations, it also enters the other areas of human functioning, such as mood, emotions, situations and environment. Therefore, we need to view sexuality and sexual activities, as well as drug-abuse, in the context of various circumstances in the life on a individual.

Even if a person succedes in creating attitude and skills necessary to reduce the potencially riski behavioural patterns, it has to be incorporated in the lifestyle of a person. All skills acquired and adopted must be successfully implemented in her/his daily life.

For the whole article by Maja Macek, please visit the web-site of CAHIV association website (in Croatian).