Communication Determinants of Condom use for HIV and AIDS Prevention among the Youth in Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

The general objective of this study was to examine the communication determinants for condom use for HIV and AIDS prevention among the youth in Kilifi County, Kenya. Specifically, this study sought to find out the influence of knowledge levels of HIV and AIDS on condom use for HIV and AIDS prevention among the youth in Kilifi County; establish the influence of behavioural intention on condom use for HIV and AIDS prevention among the youth in Kilifi County; explain the influence of environmental constraints on condom use for HIV and AIDS prevention among the youth in Kilifi County ; assess the influence of saliency on HIV and AIDS and condom use for prevention of HIV and AIDS among the youth in Kilifi County and to analyze the influence of skills and competency on condom use that determine condom use among the youth in Kilifi County. The study was informed by the Integrated Behavioural Model, which indicates the determinants for health behaviour change to include the intention to perform a behaviour, knowledge level, skills and competency to perform the behaviour, saliency of the behaviour and environmental factors. The study used a mixed method design, relying mainly on descriptive survey to cross-sectionally study the youth and other HIV and AIDS specialists in Kilifi North Sub-County using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD) and questionnaires. A total of 390 participants were studied, of which 384 respondents were selected using systematic random sampling method and issued with questionnaires. Qualitative data were collected from six focus groups voluntarily drawn from the learning institutions, and from a total of six HIV and AIDs programme specialists drawn from the NGOs and CBOs in the sub-county for in-depth interview. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the xxiii Pearson‟s Product Moment Correlations, while qualitative data in themes were used for triangulation purposes. Results showed that the youth in Kilifi had high knowledge of HIV and AIDS and condom use. Additionally, findings revealed that condom use among the youth was positively determined by skills and competencies, behavioral intentions, Saliency and knowledge, in order of importance. However, environmental constraints had a negative effect on condom use behavior among youth in Kilifi County. The study concluded that without behavioral intentions, skills and competency and saliency, the high knowledge level does not automatically lead to behavior change to use condoms for HIV prevention among the youth. The findings confirm the position of four constructs of the integrated behavioral model as positive promoters of behavior change. The study recommends interpersonal communication as effective in bridging the knowledge-behavior gap among the youth for effective behavior change.