Factors influencing prevention of Hiv/Aids among secondary schools students in Eldoret East sub county, Uasin Gishu County Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing prevention of HIV/AIDS among students in secondary schools in Eldoret east sub county, Uasin Gishu County Kenya. HIV/AIDS threatens to reverse enrolment and completion rates in secondary schools and therefore there is need to respond to the disease in a visionary and a dynamic way. This calls for development of skills and values and changing attitudes to promote healthy social behavior. The objectives of the study were; to establish personal characteristics influencing HIV/AIDS prevention, assess available resources used in prevention of HIV/AIDS, determine policy measures provided for prevention of HIV/AIDS and finally assess institutional factors influencing implementation of education sector policies towards prevention of HIV/AIDS among students in secondary schools. The theoretical framework adopted was the diffusion of innovation theory advanced by Rogers, which explains that for an idea to be disseminated through a community innovation, communication social system and time are the key elements. The study employed descriptive survey design. The target population was 3500 students, 9 HODs, and 9 principals from the selected area of study. The study adopted stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques to select the sample size. The sample size comprise of 359 students, 9 HODs, and 9 principals. The study used Questionnaire, interview schedules and documents analyses to collect data. The data was analyzed by the use descriptive statistics by means of percentages and frequencies. The peer counseling/education programs be mounted and youth are fully involved in the designs of such interventions. Learning institutions have to respond to develop related skills, values and attitudes to promote healthy behavior. Students need to be provided with information on prevention of HIV/AIDS so as to develop meaningful skills to stay unaffected. There is need to encourage students to speak out on issues related to HIV/AIDS establish peer counseling clubs as well as mounting performance of peer counseling clubs. The available resources such as books, pamphlets, films, and DVDs have an effect. Films and videos were hired from film industries. Well-endowed schools have resources while young upcoming schools mostly in the Sub County have scanty resources e.g. magazines, pamphlets, textbooks and video and films. Most teachers lacked HIV/AIDS education materials textbooks, the syllabus, charts and the education policy. This prevented them from gathering enough knowledge and information to pass to students. This undermined its integration in the curriculum. The government of Kenya has the commitment to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Through the office of the president established NACC to provide leadership and strong coordination mechanism for multi-sect oral national response to HIV/AIDS prevention 2005-2009. The ministry should plan for HIV/AIDS education material production for students and teachers. The government and other stakeholders in the war against HIV/AIDS prevention should provide resources to all schools and clear guidelines as to where to source funds to purchase the resources to help in the prevention of HIV/AIDS among students.