Sexual behaviour change and HIV infection among college student: a case of Mosoriot primary teachers’ training college Nandi North district

Abstract

HIV/AIDS remains a major challenge in Kenya. The concerted efforts to reduce HIV prevalence has not translated into significant behaviour change as new infections occur everyday especially among young people KAIS (2007). AIDS is caused by human immune-deficiency virus, where 80% is transmitted through sex, while approximately 20% is through other factors (NASCOP, February 2007). If student-teachers were intensively involved in campaigns against HIV infection for the last two decades Kenya would be miles ahead in the prevention of infection and the care of the infected (KNUT, June-July 2008). This study therefore sought to find out sexual behaviour change and HIV infection among college students at Mosoriot Primary Teachers Training College. The study was based on Rosenstock (1974), Modified Health Belief Model. The researcher used purposive sampling to select single college students from the rest of the student population. To select the sample size, stratified sampling technique was used to categorize the college students according to gender and year of study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select participants from each strata. The study adopted both survey and causal comparative research designs. The main instruments of data collection were questionnaires and focus group discussions. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics in form of frequencies and percentages. The study found out that all the respondents were aware of the most common mode of transmission of HIV infection as sexual intercourse. The strategies that the college students have adopted to guard themselves against HIV infection were found out to be; keeping one sexual partner, use of condoms, abstaining from sex, choosing lovers carefully and none. It was also established that there was a significant relationship between; VCT visit and measures taken to guard against HIV infection; gender and VCT visit. The study also found out that there was no significant relationship in students‟ sexual intercourse based on their age and gender. The recommendations of the current study will provide college students, stakeholders and policy makers with skills and knowledge with which to fight HIV infection