IMPACT OF GUIDANCE PROGRAMME ON ENHANCING RISK BEHAVIOUR CHANGE AMONG YOUTH LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics projections (2015), Nakuru County has a population of 1,959,880 comprising of 982,505 males (50%) and 977,375 females (50%). Children below 15 years constitute 39% of the population, while youth aged 15-24 years constitute 21% of the population. By the end of 2015, a total of 41, 217 people were living with HIV in the County, with 15% being young people aged 15-24 years. Nakuru county HIV and AIDS strategic plan (2015/2016) reported that, the number of adolescents living with HIV in Nakuru County was 16,153. Adolescents who have low self-efficacy may be swayed into risky behavior experimentation. Such risky behavior involves alcohol and substance abuse and unsafe sex. This risky behaviour among youth living with HIV may lead to reinfection and the development of AIDS and hence premature death. Social cognitive theory by Bandura was used in this study. The core objective of the study was to assess the impact of guidance programme in enhancing risky behavior change among Youth Living with HIV/AIDS, in Nakuru County. The study used an experimental research design with 38 participants in control group and 38 in experimental group. The experimental group was given the guidance programme as an intervention. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a questionnaire and an interview schedule. T-test for independent means was used to determine the difference between means of the two groups, the experimental and the control group, while percentile was used to test the level of professionalism of the VCT counselors. Both the tests were calculated at 0.05 level of significance. The findings were that; the guidance programme raised the level of self-efficacy, self-esteem, attitude towards safe sex and hence lowered the level of risky behaviour among youth living with HIV/AIDS. Recommendations were that the Guidance programme be incorporated in the intervention programmes for YLWHA.