Effects Of Training On Men’s Knowledge In Home-Based Care Practices For People Living With Hiv And Aids In Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

An estimated 35.3 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2013 hence the need for care and support escalated. HIV/AIDS remains a major health and development challenge in Kenya as 5.9% of Kenyans are infected. Home-based care emerged as an effective method of providing cost-effective and compassionate care to those infected and affected with HIV and AIDS. However, there is low male involvement in home-based care services and knowledge among the communities in Kenya remains scanty. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of training on men’s knowledge in home-based care practices for people living with HIV and AIDS in Kisii County, Kenya. A longitudinal quasi-experimental design study was done using qualitative and quantitative approaches on pre and post training. The study populations were men in household who were living with people living with HIV/AIDS. The study used Multi stage sampling techniques in selecting the study participants. Sample size of 80 Men was used. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS (version 17) computer software and thematic content approach was used to analyze the qualitative data. The study findings showed few (34.5%) men had formal training in HBC for HIV persons. Overall knowledge improved after training for the intervention group all the variables were high statistically significantly (p=0.000) increased on knowledge. The significant independent variable in the model was the men’s educational level 67 (ß = .324, P ≤ 0.001); as man‘s educational level increased, so did his home based care and HIV/AIDS knowledge. There were significant increases of proportion of activities engaged in HBC practices at the post training survey compared to pre- training survey. Men can learn and participate in HBC if more advocacy and training are conducted at communities.