Author : Eric Rosana Masese
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (819 download)
Book Synopsis The Social Construction of HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies Among Abagusii Youth-Kenya by : Eric Rosana Masese
Download or read book The Social Construction of HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies Among Abagusii Youth-Kenya written by Eric Rosana Masese and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: HIV/AIDS continues to be a major socio-economic and medical problem affecting youth in Kenya. This is in spite of the massive prevention interventions which aim at empowering the youth with information on how to avoid being infected. This has therefore created impetus for investigating contextual factors driving the pandemic. However, missing in these studies are the processes on how meanings which are vital in influencing sexual behaviour are generated in different cultural contexts. This study therefore focused on the structures and processes of meaning formation within social groups, with regards to sex and HIV/AIDS, and how the produced meanings influence the interpretation and adoption of HIV/AIDS prevention strategies. Using the social construction theory, the study examined emic understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention strategies such Abstinence, Being Faithful, Condom use and Knowing one's HIV status ( VCT) among Abagusii youth in their lived experiences. Specifically, the study interrogated how the social meanings of sex and HIV/AIDS influence the interpretation and action towards “ABC” and “VCT” HIV/AIDS prevention approaches. Data for this study was obtained from 100 Abagusii youth using in-depth conversational interviews and participant observation. Augmentative data was also obtained from key informant interviews. Findings from the study showed that Abagusii youths make sense of HIV/AIDS prevention strategies (ABC and VCT) in relation to their social meanings of sex. In conclusion, while appreciating the vital role of structural and contextual factors in influencing sexual behaviour, the study argued that it is equally important to take into account meaning formation processes in understanding individuals' behavioural responses to HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns in diverse cultural contexts for them to be effective.