An AIDS training program for rural mental health providers.

A total of 194 mental health care providers in Arkansas, primarily from rural areas and small communities, participated in a four-hour training program designed to improve their knowledge about the psychosocial and neuropsychiatric aspects of HIV and AIDS. Participants' responses to questionnaires completed before and after training indicated that the program was successful in achieving its goal. However, only a minimal number of providers reported completing drug, alcohol, and sexual histories and AIDS risk assessments for any of their patients before the training occurred.

AIDS knowledge in minorities: significance of locus of control.

A convenience sample of 587 subjects from the community health centers of Harris County, Texas, completed a structured interview that included questions on knowledge of AIDS transmission and prevention and on the Wallston Health Locus of Control (HLOC) Scale. HLOC score was a strong independent predictor of AIDS knowledge, with high externality associated with less knowledge. In a regression equation predicting AIDS knowledge, HLOC contributed 3% of the variance after education and ethnicity were accounted for.

Developing family planning services for female chronic mentally ill outpatients.

The family planning needs of chronic mentally ill women outpatients, many of whom do not use contraceptives and are at high risk for unwanted pregnancies, have been rarely addressed. Taking a thorough sexual history is the first step in assessing patients' need for family planning services. Patient education, including instruction about physiological processes and contraceptive methods and assertiveness training, is the most important service component.

AIDS and family planning counseling of psychiatrically ill women in community mental health clinics.

Eighty-two of 83 mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, were surveyed to determine their attitudes and behaviors toward AIDS prevention and family planning counseling with psychiatrically ill female outpatients. Nearly all reported that information should be provided on AIDS and family planning. However, they reported that they had raised topics of AIDS with only 19% of patients and family planning with only 25% of patients.

AIDS knowledge in low-income and minority populations.

A convenience sample of 587 subjects was selected from the waiting areas of community health centers in Harris County, TX. They completed a structured interview that included questions on their knowledge of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) transmission and prevention. Hispanic patients were interviewed in their preferred language.