6 May 2022

FEATURED RESEARCHER – MAY 2022

Prof. Geoffrey Maroko – PI Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics and Languages

PROJECT: A Situational Analysis of Intervention Measures in The Management of HIV/AIDS Prevalence in Kisii County

Project Team

Prof. Geoffrey Maroko – Machakos University (Principal Investigator)

Dr Augustus Nyakundi – Chuka University (Co-Investigator)

Gladys Mokua – Kenyatta University (Co-Investigator)

Meshack Onyambu – Kenyatta University (Co-Investigator)

FUNDER: National Research Fund (NRF)

AMOUNT AWARDED: 10 Million

STATUS: Ongoing

Project Summary

At the inception of the project, Kisii County had one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the country. According to the county’s HIV/AIDS strategic plan 2016, the disease burden stood at (8.5%) among women and (7.3%) among men. The high prevalence rate was attributed to stigma, challenges faced by HIV specialists, cultural practices, poverty among others. To generate data for future interventions, this project set out to carry out a situational analysis of intervention measures in the management of HIV/AIDS prevalence in Kisii County. Results of the project will help in capacity development involving key stakeholders, policy proposals, development of a website for stakeholders, a digital herbarium, publications and conference papers.

Milestones

  1. March 2018: Inception workshop in which project tools and field schedules were developed.
  2. December 2018: Field work and Report: Interventions in HIV/AIDS response in Kisii County – Part 1
  3. December 2019: Field work and Report: Interventions in HIV/AIDS response in Kisii County – Part 2
  4. March 2021: Two-week Training and Report: Improving technical capacity for self-help groups/CBOs for Effective HIV/AIDS response in Kisii County

Selected Interventions in HIV/AIDS Response in the County

  1. Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programme targeting expecting and lactating mothers;
A Focus Group Discussion on how the mentor mother programme works at Marani Level IV Hospital

  • Key Populations Programme targeting Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), Sex Workers (SWs) and People Who Inject Drugs (PWID);
The PI engaging Providers in the Key Populations Programme at Ogembo Level IV Hospital

  • Compulsory HIV/AIDS Screening at the Out-Patient Department of every facility in the county;
  • The Partner Notification Service (PNS) for enlisting sexual contacts of a person living with HIV/AIDS for testing;
An HTS Counsellor explaining how the PNS programme works at Nduru Level IV Hospital

  • Youth friendly interventions;
  • The Moonlight Initiative as a response to stigma and discrimination;
  • Individual testing initiative (ITI) targeting men
  • Condom Programme
  • Support Group Programmes

Capacity Development Initiative

A total of 141 HIV/AIDS service providers representing seven (7) Community-Based Organisations/ Self-Hep Groups, most of whose members are living with HIV/AIDS have been trained as trainers. The training strategy involved a needs assessment survey focusing on a review of two previous field reports and engagement of main stakeholders including mentor mothers, peer navigators, community health volunteers, and Key Populations. The needs assessment report was followed up by preparation of training materials including manuals and power point presentations. The other activities were training and training evaluation. The training four training modules were:

  • Adherence to Anti-Retroviral Therapy
  • Nutritional requirements for People Living with HIV/AIDS
  • Adherence Counselling
  • Management of Self-Help Groups/Community-Based Organisations
Members of Boma Bidii CBO Posing for a photo after training

As a result of the training, adherence to ART has been enhanced, several income-generating activities have been initiated, and nutritional solutions have been established including exchange of foodstuffs among people living with HIV during their weekly group meetings.

Members of Mesaria Empowerment CBO with the Project Team on their Farm

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  1. Maroko, M.G. et al (2021). COVID-19 Communication: How the Illocutionary Force of Words is undoing the Gains in HIV/AIDS Response in Kisii County at the 3rd International Conference of Machakos University
  2. Maroko, M.G. et al (2020). HIV/AIDS in Kisii County, Traditional Environmental Knowledge and ELT at the 54th IATEFL Conference
  3. Maroko M.G., Mokua, G.N. (2019. Unpacking the linguistic metaphors entrenching HIV/Aids-related stigma in Kisii County. 2nd International Conference of Machakos University.

PUBLICATIONS

  1. Abagusii traditional environmental knowledge and HIV/AIDS management: Implications for English language teaching – https://www.ecoling.net/

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