Browsing by Author "Mwithia, Kinya Jesica"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Couples' communication on sexual and relational issues among the Akamba in Kenya
    (African Journal of AIDS Research, 2009-11) Miller, Ann Neville; Golding, Lenette; wa Ngula, Kyalo; Wambua, MaryAnne; Mutua, Evans; Kizito, Mary N.; Teti, Caroline; Booker, Nancy Achieng’ ; Mwithia, Kinya Jesica ; Rubin, Donald L
    A large portion of HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa occurs among married couples, yet the majority of research on safer-sex communication has focused on communication between couples in casual relationships. This paper explores how committed Kamba couples in Machakos District, Kenya, communicate about sensitive relational issues. The findings from focus group discussions with five groups of males and five groups of females are presented. The couples freely shared their thoughts about daily and economic issues and certain aspects of family planning and sexuality. Methods for raising sensitive issues with partners included monitoring the spouse’s mood, gradual or indirect revelation, mentioning topics during sex, and use of third-party intermediaries. Interference by extended family members, especially husbands’ mothers, and male authoritarian roles emerged as hindrances to effective communication between couples. The implications for HIV prevention regarding gender differences and the role of families in couples’ communication are discussed
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Exploring Terror Victims’ Expectations of Government Communication
    (International Journal of Media, Journalism and Mass Communications, 2020) Aswani, Daniel Robert; Mbutu, Paul Mutinda; Mwithia, Kinya Jesica
    At the time of a terror attack, victims yearn for messages from the government so that they can make decisions on their safety and security. When the government communicates, the victims form perceptions towards such communication. The perceptions that victims of terror hold are partly attributed to the expectations that the victims have of government communication. This study explored terror victims’ expectations of government communication. The study adopted a qualitative methodology and used hermeneutic phenomenological design. The findings showed that victims of terror have expectations of government communication ranging from the desire for personalized communication; agility in communication; transparent and prompt communication; well-coordinated messaging; and communicate power and authority. Different studies, both conceptual and speculative, point to the same expectations of the different audiences that consume government communication.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Health Belief Model Review: Suggestions to Consider in Extending the Model for Application in the African Context
    (Howard Journal of Communications, 2023-10) Nganda, Jeremiah M.; Mwithia, Kinya Jesica
    While scholars use many theories and models in health communication, only a handful of them are commonly used in studies focusing on behavior change and prediction. One of these is the Health Belief Model. Even though the model has been applied widely, not much has been done to contextualize the model for contemporary application in Africa. In the absence of a theory by and for Africans that addresses behavior prediction from a health communication viewpoint, there is a need to contextualize the available theories for application in the African context. This study aims to expose additional constructs that have been proposed to contextualize HBM for studies in the continent. Such suggestions for extensions and additional constructs could provide insights into gaps that scholars see as not addressed by the original version of HBM. This essay reviews 9 articles that either proposed or recommended additional constructs. The findings of the review show that to contextualize the model for application in Africa, some of the key additional constructs to consider are community influence, cultural background, subjective norms, social support, and environmental factors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Kenyan pastors’ perspectives on communicating about sexual behaviour and HIV
    (African Journal of AIDS Research, 2011-09) Miller, Ann Neville; Mwithia, Kinya Jesica; Kizito, Mary N.; Njoroge, Lucy
    The article presents an analysis of in-depth interviews with 18 leaders of Christian churches in Nairobi, Kenya, regarding the content and context of messages they disseminate to their congregations about sexual behaviour and HIV. The content of messages was nearly consistent across the different denominations. However, three sorts of tensions were identified within pastoral communication about these topics: the need to discuss sex and HIV versus societal taboos against speaking about those issues from the pulpit; traditional cultural norms versus current lifestyles; and the ideals of abstinence and fidelity versus the reality of congregants’ sexual behaviour. Although some of the religious leaders accepted the idea of condom use, no denominational patterns were noted on that subject, except with respect to Catholic priests. Pentecostal leaders were notable for describing proactive strategies to address both the ideal/real dilemma and the tension between church norms and current media content about sexuality and HIV.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Kenyan patients’ attitudes regarding doctor ethnicity and doctor–patient ethnic discordance
    (Patient Education and Counseling, 2010) Miller, Ann Neville; Mwithia, Kinya Jesica ; Booker, Nancy Achieng’ ; Kizito, Mary N.; wa Ngula, Kyalo
    Objective: This study explored Kenyan patients’ perspectives on the role of ethnicity in the doctor– patient relationship. Methods: 221 participants completed questionnaires on ethnicity in doctor–patient relationships; eight focus groups were held with low- and middle-income urban and rural women. Results: About half of participants expressed no preference for doctor ethnicity. Participants rated demographic factors as less important than factors related to the doctor’s qualifications, communication skills, and cost of service. Those who did indicate a preference were more likely to prefer Indian doctors for eye problems and Europeans for major surgery, cancer, and heart problems. With less severe medical issues participants were more likely to prefer a doctor who was ethnically concordant with them. Reasons for this centered around communication issues. In contrast, several focus group participants did not want to be treated by doctors from their own ethnic group because of concerns about confidentiality. Conclusion: Additional research is needed on negative implications of patient–provider concordance. Practice implications: Medical service providers must be aware of concerns about ethnic concordance. Alternatively medical centers that deal with sensitive medical information need to consider hiring staff who are not of the majority ethnic group in their region.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Victims Understanding Of Government through Actions and Communication: The Case of Garissa University College Terror Attack
    (International Journal of International Relations, Media and Mass Communication Studies, 2020-12) Aswani, Daniel Robert; Mbutu, Paul Mutinda; Mwithia, Kinya Jesica
    This study falls within the government communication field. In the study, we aim at exploring what citizens make of government from its actions and communication. The study was contextualized in the government actions and communication during the 2015 Garissa University College terror attack. Terrorism is violent communication aimed at discrediting the position that governments protect citizens’ lives and property. How government deals with the attackers and how it communicates to citizens who eagerly await government communication reveals something about the nature of government. Although government communicates to the citizens, studies have been silent on citizen feedback based on the messages and actions of the government. This study adopted a qualitative approach and took a hermeneutic phenomenological design where terror victims’ lived experiences were interrogated to elucidate some perceptions towards government and government communication. Three methods were used to generate data, namely: interviews, observation and document analysis. The study findings revealed that terror victims interacted with government — an interaction that revealed a government that send mixed signals on its capacity to handle the situation