An organizational approach to identifying risk-taking behaviors in African American males: Relationship and vulnerability to the HIV/AIDS virus

According to reports from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the African American population is at a higher risk for a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS than other ethnic groups.;The purpose of this research project was to see if college-aged African American males could easily identify and agree with risk-taking behavior categories that increased a person's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. This research project was conducted with African American males 18 years and older at a central San Joaquin Valley community college and several African American churches. It did not, however, specifically target participants who were known to be living with HIV/AIDS.;African American males (N = 100) were surveyed regarding their attitudes related to the behaviors that placed them at risk for exposure to HIV/AIDS. Respondents completed a 19-question qualitative and quantitative instrument, including a separate section for participants to rank (in their own words) behaviors they personally believed constituted risk taking. The methodology developed for this study utilized a content analysis in which participants clearly and independently rank ordered behaviors they perceived to be the top three factors increasing an African American male's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. The approach also identified congruent verses incongruent responses from the participants. Aggregated results determined congruency between the participants' beliefs, actions, and attitudes towards involvement in risk-taking behaviors.;Results showed four recurring themes were commonly perceived by African American males to constitute high-risk behaviors for contracting HIV. These prominent themes included unprotected sex, sexual activity during incarceration, lack of education and understanding about HIV/AIDS, and covert sexual identity. There were no discernible trends regarding the order of these themes. The study results also suggested that participants believed that specific cultural characteristics, as well as behaviors, heightened African American males' susceptibilities to contracting HIV. The results of the study were discussed, compared to previous research, and methodological limitations were noted. The results were further discussed in terms of implications for organizational development, challenges for AIDS services prevention programs, and recommendations for future research.