Nature And Effectiveness Of Health Communication Interventions: A Study Of Kenyan Hiv/Aids Ngos

Abstract

The study examined the health communication interventions among HIV/AIDSNGO’s in Kenya. The researcher identified the health communication initiatives, assessed their planning and implementation and identified the gaps. The study was prompted by the fact that although billions of shillings have been spent fighting HIV/AIDS infections in the past 30 years, there was still very little to show for the effort considering that Kenya was rated among the five most affected in the world. A review of relevant literature pointed this failure to the inability of these efforts 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 was the knowledge gap the project set to study and contribute to. The study found out that organizations involved in health communications have not integrated an effective communication process and the planning of the communication process is not done in accordance with accepted communication concepts and best practice. On the basis of the findings, the study recommends changes in the health communication interventions. The study involved 38 participants who included30 Programme Officers who undertake HIV/AIDS programming and 8 peer educators and a focus group discussion involving 10 people living with HIV. This study was informed by relativist-interpretivist paradigm which is consistent with the qualitative approach and case study method. Data was collected using interviews, document reviews, observations and focus group discussion. After collection the data was analyzed thematically and presented in narrative form. All relevant ethical issues were considered. The study provides a basis upon which health communications among HIV/AIDSNGOs 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.