Relationship Between Self Esteem, Resilience and the Risk of Hiv Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men at Ishtar Msm Nairobi

Abstract

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has continued to be a major public health concern in Kenya which has ranked number 4 worldwide together with Uganda and Mozambique. On average, the HIV prevalence in Kenya is 6% with approximately 1.6 million people living with HIV infection. Despite reduction in HIV prevalence in Kenya, the Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) population still has a high prevalence which cannot be ignored especially because majority would also be engaging in heterosexual relationships hence the reason why this population is viewed as a bridge of HIV infection in the general population .Studies conducted indicate that low self-esteem in MSM puts them at an increased risk of contracting HIV. The study aims at determining the level of self-esteem among MSM, determining the level of resilience of MSM, comparing the self-esteem and resilience of HIV infected respondents with the HIV uninfected respondents and establishing if there is a difference in self-esteem, resilience and risk of HIV infection between insertive versus receptive MSM at ISHTAR MSM, Nairobi County. The target population was 373 MSM from 3730 who have been reached out at ISHTAR MSM. Collected data was coded to ensure confidentiality and anonymity of the data. The data collection tools were; a demographic form, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem scale, resilience questionnaire and a risk assessment questionnaire. Data collected was processed through SPSS and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated a strong relationship between self-esteem, resilience and risk of HIV infection. There was also a significant difference between self-esteem and resilience of MSM who practice receptive anal sex versus MSM who practice insertive anal sex with the receptive respondents having a lower self-esteem than the insertive respondents do. Owing to fear of stigma and discrimination, the study recommends that any researcher conducting a study with HIV infected MSM needs to conduct a HIV test to ensure they are working with HIV infected participants. Disclosure of HIV status was a challenge, which can be mitigated through HIV testing.