Factors influencing spread of HIV/AIDs among Borana women in Sololo division, Moyale District, Kenya

Abstract

This study was set out to explore the socio aspects which leads to the spread of HIV and AIDS among Borana women aged between15-45, the issues are cultural practices like FGM, wife inheritance, domestic violence and the management of HIV / AIDS. Female genital mutilation and wife inheritance is also very rampant, among Borana community, which leads to the spread of HIV / AIDS. The community practices FGM in order to reduce women sexual argues, to uphold traditions and as a sign of maturity, this is done using crude weapons which are shared among the victims and this can lead to spread of HIV/AIDS.

Early marriage is also rampant because the community doesn't value girl child education, therefore access to information, which raises the level of awareness of the respondents in relation to spread and prevention of HIV / AIDS is denied. The study therefore sought to establish social factors which lead to the spread of the disease and recommends remedies like women empowerment through education. Disregard for harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation and wife inheritance.

For this to be achieved the society, Government, churches, NGOs and other stakeholders will work in unity to reduce the rapid spread of HIV / AIDS. The researcher used a total of 196 respondents from Sololo Division, Moyale District. Questionnaires were used in order to get information from the field. Also questionnaires were administered to N GO workers, health workers who assist in the management of HIV/AIDS. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science as it will be presented inform of frequency tables, percentages and cross tabulations which was clearly to show the relationship between the variables.

This study established that there was a positive correlation between female genital mutilation, early marriages, wife inheritance, domestic violence and Spread of HIV / AIDS among borana women with wife inheritance influencing the spread of HIV/AIDs most, followed by female genital mutilation, early marriages and domestic violence. This study recommend that the government of Kenya, NGOs and community based organization leaders should come together and create more awareness on veT and its importance in Moyale District, condemn FGM, early marriages and domestic violence.