Peer Education in Hiv and Aids Prevention Among Religious Youth at the Technical University of Kenya

Abstract

HIV/AIDS remains a major public health challenge in Kenya today. Nationally, AIDS remains the leading cause of death and morbidity among adolescents and young people in Kenya. Nairobi County has a population estimated at 3,517,325 people, the number of new infections in the city remains high at about 3,200 a year and nearly 4,000 AIDS-related deaths (Kenya HIV Estimates Report, 2014). The HIV prevalence for Nairobi County is comparable to the national average at 6%. Out of the 1.6 million people living with HIV in Kenya, Nairobi County has the highest number of people living with HIV at 177,552 people. According to the Kenya AIDS Progress Report 2016, there has been a 51% increase in new HIV infections among the youth. The national strategy for the HIV and AIDS epidemic for Kenya is documented in the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework 2014/2015 – 2018/2019 which identifies the youth as a priority population due to the rise of new HIV infections among the youth. This project thus sought to contribute to a reduction in the high HIV prevalence among the youth by training religious youth as peer educators in HIV and AIDS prevention. The project Peer education in HIV and AIDS prevention among religious youth at the Technical University of Kenya was started in March 2018 as a partnership between Inter Religious Council of Kenya and the University of Nairobi. This was achieved by building the capacity of religious youth as peer educators in promoting HIV and AIDS prevention at the Technical University of Kenya. The Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework 2014/2015 – 2018/2019 outlines peer to peer outreach among one of the key intervention strategies for the adolescents and young people in the first strategic direction. The project activities included; conducting a KAP analysis, developing, reviewing and validating Faith Based Messages on HIV and AIDS prevention, publishing, printing and disseminating brochures of Faith Based Messages on HIV prevention information, sensitizing religious university students on HIV prevention information, training religious university students in peer education skills and supporting the students to disseminate Faith Based Messages on HIV prevention, evaluating the outcomes of the Faith Based Messages on HIV and AIDS prevention. Two IRCK secretariat staff were trained as medium term fellows within a three-month period and 4 others did the online courses offered by University of Nairobi. HIV and AIDS peer education among religious youth will create a positive impact for behavior by increasing awareness of HIV and AIDS and increasing knowledge of AIDS and HIV transmission modes.