Socio-Cultural Factors Contributing to the Spread of HIV and AIDs in Homa Bay County, Kenya.
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Date
2017-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Catholic University of Eastern Africa and Center for Democracy Research and Development
Abstract
Kenya is still battling with the prevalence of HIV and AIDS and the disease has threatened her
social and economic fabric. It has been estimated by National AIDs and STI control Programme
that 1.6 million people live with HIV in Kenya. Most affected is Western Kenya which has the
highest HIV prevalence in the country. The epidemic in this region has been seen to be propelled
by the socio-cultural practices such us wife inheritance and other risky sexual behavior. The overall
objective of this paper is to unravel the socio-cultural factors contributing to the spread of HIV
and AIDs in Homa bay County, Nyanza Region, Kenya. It also investigates Meta factors behind
traditional practices associated with sexual norms of the community. The theoretical framework
for this study is founded upon the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) and Bandura’s Social
Learning theory. The study adopted mixed research methods, both qualitative and quantitative.
The research designs employed were explorative, descriptive and contextual. Purposive sampling
and simple random sampling was used to select 250 participants aged between 15-70 years in
Homa Bay County, In-depth, individual interview and focus group interviews were used to collect
data using semi-structured and open-ended questions. Data were analyzed thematically by
identifying and expanding significant themes that emerged from the informants’ responses, include
wife inheritance, setting up of new homes, youth entertainment, preparing to launch planting,
harvesting, polygamous marriage and ritual performance. The findings revealed that social cultural
practices lead to HIV infection, in most cases most are accompanied with sexual intercourse. Other
issues which emerged include: lack of information about HIV/AIDs, poverty, substance abuse,
unsafe sexual practices, Ignorance and cultural beliefs. The study also revealed that practices are
practiced for fear of traditional curses which include taboos which may result to death and
stigmatization from the society socialization. This study recommends that, youth need to be well
informed about the pandemic, know its contributory factors and the consequences. The paper also
challenges the actors involve in HIV preventive to include elders in negotiating the traditions to
find cultural alternatives, this paper also acknowledges the involvement of local channel for fight
against HIV.
Description
Keywords
HIV and AIDS, social cultural practices, Homa bay
Citation
Otieno, Edwine. Jeremiah. & Okuku, Michael. Tedd. (2017). Social cultural factors contributing to the spread of HIV and AIDS in Homabay County, Kenya In A. N. Maurice, Beyond Agency, Voice and Space in Africa’s Development (pp. 135-146). Nairobi: Centre for Democracy, Research and Development
URI
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323295220_Socio-Cultural_Factors_Contributing_to_the_Spread_of_HIV_and_AIDs_in_Homa_Bay_County_Kenya?enrichId=rgreq-f6944436995b36728865dfb0e7d09956-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMyMzI5NTIyMDtBUzo2MDQyMDAxOTkyNzg1OTJAMTUyMTA2Mzk2MTIxMg%3D%3D&el=1_x_2&_esc=publicationCoverPdf
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12342/960
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12342/960