The Role of Personality Traits in HIV Risk Behaviour A Study Among HIVSero-positive Single Individuals in Selected Support Groups in Nairobi

Abstract

The study explored the personality traits portrayed by HIV positive single individuals that would have put them at risk of HIV infection. The study sought information from HIV positive single males and females from two support groups of single persons living with HIV infection in Nairobi. The respondents were selected through purposive sampling technique; snowball method was used to recruit the HIV positive males and females to the sample. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire that had a section of a personality test based on Costa and McCrae five factor model, and a focus group discussion. Data analysis was undertaken using the statistical package of social sciences. The study found out that the personality traits that place individuals at risk of HIV behaviour include extroversion, neuroticism, openness to experience and agreeableness. Those who scored low on conscientiousness were also at risk of HIV infection. A combination of extroversion and neuroticism traits puts one even at a higher risk engaging in HIV risk behaviours. Personality traits such as openness to experience predisposes one to substance use especially alcohol. The effects of alcohol when one is under intoxication predispose one to engage in behaviour that will put one at risk of HIV infection because alcohol lowers the inhibition of an individual. The study also found that family dynamics may play a role in the development of personality traits that predisposes one to engaging in HIV risk behaviour. Most significant in the study is the importance of parents in early childhood development and especially the importance of the presence of the father in the developmental stages of the girl child. The respondents also stated that the social environment especially Abstracts 145 in the slum situation also has a part to play in the predisposition to HIV risk behaviour. The study recommends that the church, government, society, non- governmental organization and the individuals that are living with the HIV infection have a role to play in the fight against this infection. Daystar University in particular can assist through offering counselling services to these youths that have tested HIV positive.