Communication Factors Influencing the Uptake of Hiv and Aids Messages Among Adolescents and Young People Aged 15-24 in Mathare Sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

This research set out to understand how HIV and AIDS prevention messages were received by young people (15-24) in the Mathare slum. The study-specific objectives include examining how effective mass media campaigns are at raising HIV and AIDS awareness among AYP, how information providers affect AYPs' adoption of HIV and AIDS messages, what conditions were optimal for AYPs to adopt HIV and AIDS messages, and what factors influenced AYPs' selection of communication channels for HIV messages. This study's goal was accomplished by a cross-sectional survey of young people utilizing questionnaires. Providing an evaluation of mass media campaigns and knowledge on HIV and AIDS concerns among AYP, this research is important to specified institutions including relevant government agencies, public health stakeholders, and partners. Due to the broad and undefined nature of the study's target population, which is estimated at over 10,000, the Fishers formula was used to derive a sample size of adolescents and young people from the Mathare slum. The research relied on a descriptive design, detailing the investigated factors using both numerical and narrative information. A conceptual framework linked to the research aims to organize and establish causal relationships between the relevant variables. This research confirmed the significance of the media in reaching young people with HIV and AIDS education and prevention messages. Radio and television, as well as modern technologies using internet services, are the most successful mass medium. The results showed that AYP would rather obtain knowledge while in a small group of friends or alone. Researchers hope that policymakers, communication specialists, and community-based organizations in the HIV and AIDS space will find this work useful in formulating communication campaigns targeting young people on HIV and other related health matters.