Browsing by Author "Bitok, Monicah"
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Item Condom Use Determinants and Practices Among People Living with HIV in Kisii County, Kenya(Open AIDS, 2015-11-13) Wamalwa, Emmanuel; Neyole, Edward; Poipoi, Moses; Ringera, William; Otomu, Geoffrey; Bitok, Monicah; Mbaluka, RosemaryThe male condom remains the single, most efficient and available technology to reduce sexual transmission of HIV as well as sexually transmitted infections. This study sought to establish condom use determinants and practices among people living with HIV (PLHIVs) in Kisii County, Kenya. We interviewed 340 PLHIVs and 6 health workers. Although most PLHIVs had correct knowledge and approved condoms as effective for HIV prevention, consistent use and condom use at last sex were notably low especially among PLHIVs aged 18 – 24, those who depended on remittances from kin as main source of income, as well as during sex with secondary and casual partners. This study notes that knowledge on various benefits of using condoms is associated with enhanced condom use practices. Non-disclosure of HIV status to secondary and casual partners remains a key barrier to condom use among PLHIVs Our observations highlight the need to further promote condom use among specific PLHIVs socio-demographic groups who continue to exhibit low condom use rates.Item Knowledge Levels and Gaps on Preventing HIV Transmission among People Living With HIV in Kisii County, Western Kenya(Journal of Human and Social Science Research, 2015) Wamalwa, Emmanuel; Neyole, Edward; Poipoi, Moses; Bitok, MonicahAbstract Knowledge of HIV prevention methodologies by people living with HIV (PLHIVs) is an important precursor to HIV risk reduction. This study sought to determine HIV prevention knowledge and knowledge gaps among PLHIVs in Kisii County, Western Kenya. A total 340 PLHIVs across 9 health facilities and 6 Key informants, mainly HIV managers and programmers were interviewed. We found high generalized knowledge among PLHIVs on HIV prevention, as well as on condom use, abstinence and faithfulness to a partner as prevention methods. We however found low knowledge levels on emerging biomedical prevention methods, including treatment as prevention. Similarly, despite high knowledge levels on Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT), few PLHIVs know exact phases in which MTCT can occur - pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding – with males, those depending on kin as primary income source and PLHIVs attending higher-level facilities least likely to have this knowledge. Media, health workers and HIV campaigns remain the most important communication channels for PLHIVs as regards HIV information, while peers are an important information source for males. Our observations highlight the need to further promote knowledge of various HIV prevention methodologies, especially emerging prevention methods, among specific PLHIVs socio-demographic groups that exhibit low knowledge levels