Abstract:
HIV/AIDS continues to be a major socioeconomic and medical problem affecting
many youths in Kenya. Great medical advancements have seen its status decline from
a fatal to a manageable, chronic disease. Despite this, it still has no cure. Prevention
still remains core in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS. Guided by social
construction theory, this study investigated the influence of social meanings of
HIV/AIDS treatment on HIV/AIDS prevention using ABC strategies among the youth
in Eldoret town, Kenya. Specifically, the study examined how the youth make
meanings of HIV/AIDS treatment and how these meanings influence their practice of
safe sex using ABC strategies. Data for this study was collected from 50 youths who
were selected through snowball sampling and direct approach using in-depth
interviews. Augmentative data was also collected from four key informants who were
purposively selected and three focused groups involving the youths were held. Data
from In-depth interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were
transcribed verbatim and then thematically analyzed. Findings of the study showed
that the youth had diverse social meanings of HIV/AIDS treatment depending on age,
gender, religious affiliation, level of formal education, sexual activity, future career
path and perception of HIV/AIDS risk. These social meanings of HIV/AIDS
treatment were; HIV/AIDS treatment as management of illness, HIV/AIDS treatment
as cure of the illness, HIV/AIDS treatment as no cure for illness and HIV/AIDS
treatment as unnecessary evil. These social meanings were further found to influence
the practice of safe sex using ABC through the various forms of treatment associated
with the youth meanings of HIV/AIDS treatment in relation to their socialized
practice of sexuality. The study recommends that the youth should be provided with
appropriate information on HIV/AIDS prevention strategies depending with their
context and that the young people should be provided with accurate and adequate
knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention to enable them make informed choices on
sexual matters.
