Nature of health communication interventions among HIV Aids NGOs In Kenya

Abstract

The paper is part of the literature review of a doctorate research on Nature and effectiveness of health communication interventions: a study of Kenyan HIV Aids NGOs. The paper takes a look at the nature of communication interventions that are used by HIV Aids NGOs in the fight against HIV in Kenya. Communication interventions are discussed in this paper because they address some of the concerns of the research questions in the study. The study was prompted by the fact that although billions of shillings have been spent fighting HIV/AIDS infections in the past 30 years, Kenya is rated among the five most affected in the world. A review of relevant literature pointed this failure to the inability of communication interventions to translate to behavior change thus leading to mere provision of information which creates high awareness levels, but which did not translate to behavior and social change. This paper was informed by relativist-interpretivist paradigm which is consistent with the qualitative approach and case study method. The study provides a basis upon which health communications among HIV/AIDS NGOs in Kenya and similar contexts could be based. It also fills a gap in the existing literature as well as contributing towards the continuing discourse on HIV/AIDS communication.