Socio-economic and sociocultural correlates of hiv/aids prevalence in Kenya.

Abstract

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has been identified as one of the most deadly diseases of our time and it has continued to increase unabated at alarming rates. ln Kenya the situation has become very distressing where A[DS prevalence cases have nearly doubled between IC)C)() and 1994. The problem of HIV/AIDS has gone beyond epidemic propitious and now is worrisome social, health (lIHI economic problem. The objective of this study \.'/(IS to analyze the xocial. cultural and economic factors that influence sexual] behaviour or individual thus'. exposing them to the risk of H IV I A I f)S infection. The factors that will be investigated include age. marital] status. educational levels. occupation. number (If unions ;1I1d religion. The data used in this study was trom the Kenya Demographic« and Health Survey (Kf)~S) 199J. Cross-tabulation was the 1main statistical method used to analyze dthat In this study Chi-s(111;lre - ~ statistics were used to determine the level of significance of the association between cultural. social and economic variables and HIV!;\IDS infection. It \Va'. hypoc'ii7L'd that: social factors such as age, marital status education: CCOIHlIl1ic factors. such as occupation: and cultural factors such ;IS religion may expose' an individual to the risk of HIV/;\IDS infection. The results of the analysis indicate that level of education. age, marital

status and occupation have significant axxoriatiou with condom use. number of sex partners and coital frequency.on the other hand, the number of unions and religion have no significant association with condom use. number nr sex partners and coital frequency. The study commends th;lt condom use be promoted and that the young people be targeted. There also should he enhanced campaigns on HIV/AIDS information advocating for one sex partner and the continuous use of condoms.