Social Cognitive Theory appropriately applies in this issue of STI screening in Hispanic women. This theory recognizes that a person has the ability to learn not only from the theoretical or class work experience but also from the social aspects of life. A person does not have to learn everything through experience but through a replica of what others have gone through. Subsequently, these young women do not need to undergo the wrath of sexually transmitted infection in order to learn. Vigorous campaigns in San Antonio held through seminars, workshops as well as religious groups have created a great awareness to these individuals hence a high increase in the number of screens for sexually transmitted infection (Tracksler 2004).
Rationale for Theory Selection
The basis of selecting social cognitive theory is the fact that it addresses the primary determinants of health behaviors and ways of endorsing change. Additionally, human health is not just a personal issue but also a social matter. An inclusive approach regarding health promotion requires change of social systems that can affect human health. This theory presents an important multisided structure whereby self-efficacy works together with outcome expectations, goals and apparent environmental facilitators and barriers to control human behavior, motivation and welfare (Tracksler 2004). One’s efficacy to control some health habits helps in maintaining good health. For instance, increasing awareness of the importance of STI screening to Hispanic women in San Antonio will improve their self-efficacy in practicing habits that will minimize transmission of these diseases. They will try to persevere so that they succeed in doing what is right for the sake of their health.
Application of Theory-Based Constructs
Social cognitive theory helps one understand operation of important determinants of behaviors to explain one’s actions. Self efficacy, self regulatory feature of behavior, is the central construct of behavior that refers to beliefs that one has to attain certain goals. One can build self-efficacy by practicing skills such as condom use to prevent oneself from STIs. Self-efficacy plays an important role in helping one maintain good habits and leave bad ones. This aspect helps people practice good behaviors such as safe sex to prevent STIs through use of condoms.
The environment implies to people and the things they do and can influence the behavior of a person. An individual living among people with low self-efficacy tends to adapt the same behavior and this may reduce chances of practicing skills that can prevent STIs. On the contrary, people with high self efficacy teach other people the good skills that can protect one’s health. Situation is another factor that can affect one’s behavior. For instance, a situation where safer sex cannot be practiced due to lack of condoms or barriers such as culture, one is forced to risk his or her health. Such situations require self control and also awareness to prevent unprotected sex, which facilitates transmission of diseases.
Behavioral capabilities refer to one’s ability to maintain a certain behavior or conduct. When one is able to maintain a good behavior it means he or she has high self-efficacy. This implies that he or she is able to do what is good by practicing skills that protects one’s health. This involves practicing safer sex through condom use to prevent transmission of diseases.
Expectancies and expectations are anticipated results of a certain action or behavior. People who have high self-efficacy expect positive outcomes or expectancies while those with low self-efficacy tend to have negative outcomes. For instance, those women who use condoms effectively focus on optimistic outcomes such as prevention of STIs and unwanted pregnancy. These positive outcomes motivate one to continue using condoms carefully to avoid embarrassment (Tracksler 2004).
Health quality is influenced heavily by lifestyle habits. Therefore, to have good health, people should control their habits; practicing those that are helpful and leave those that are harmful. This refers to self management whereby one disciplines himself or herself to do what is right. For instance, to control transmission of STIs, people should learn to do helpful practices such as use of condom or abstinence to prevent transmission of STIs.
Observational learning refers to knowledge or education one gains from observing what someone has gone through. It refers learning from other peoples’ experience. This helps one get a picture of what will happen if he or she does similar thing that someone else did. Therefore, shapes one behavior by cautioning them what to expect. Observational learning gives learners an example of problems to experience and their consequences; therefore, avoid behaviors that can lead to troubles.
Reinforcement is an intervention designed to reward learners that enact a certain behavior. For instance, in San Antonio, Hispanic women who have undergone screening should be rewards to attract those that refuse to go for screening. Rewards tend to lure people, especially those that refuse to do something and this is known as positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement involves punishing learners who refuse to practice certain behavior.
Reciprocal determinism refers to how environment and behavior can interact continuously and influence each other. This interaction therefore offers ways that help modify the behaviors by using interventions that promote human health. For instance, modifying social norms on the use of condoms will allow all cultures to use them and stop STI transmission.
Evaluation design proposal
Survey
Collection of data is from a sample of 500 Hispanic women in San Antonio aged between 20 and 24 years. The sample includes married, single and sexually active women. The method involves filling in questionnaires that had four questions written in both English and Spanish language. The questionnaires were distributed from home to home in San Antonio and collected after each woman had completed filling. They filled questionnaires were then analyzed. The questions were:
- What is your status?
- Are you a Hispanic, a Black or a Caucasian?
- Have you ever gone for STI screening?
- If yes, how many times in an year?
