| dc.description.abstract | This study examined the potential of a local community initiative, Nyoluoro, in
HIV/AIDS prevention and care in Usigu Division of Siaya District. It was designed to
investigate whether the groups are in any way involved in disseminating health
information to the community and to document the groups' perception of AIDS and anti-
AIDS efforts. The study also sought to find out whether women, who constituted the
majority in the groups, could provide home-care to AIDS patients, as well as to ascertain
whether the groups could extend their financial resources from the rotations to provide
support to AIDS widows and orphans.
The study, which was done between the periods of October 1997 and February
1998, enlisted a total of 100 respondents. In order to have a comprehensive study, the
respondents were stratified into groups which included 91 respondents currently involved
in the groups, 6 who had never joined the groups and 3 that had opted out of the groups.
There were thirteen Nyoluoro groups that facilitated the study; seven of them were
registered while six were unregistered.
Data were collected by means of structured interviews, focus group discussions
and key informants. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive methods and
presentation was in the form of frequencies and percentages.
The study came to the conclusion that one, Nyoluoro groups have positive
perceptions of AIDS and anti-AIDS efforts and also have potential to disseminate health
information. two, women, being the majority in the groups, are capable of providing home care to AIDS patients. Three, the groups have the capability to extend their
financial resources to provide financial support to AIDS widows and orphans.
The study also revealed some limitations that might prohibit successful
involvement of the groups in implementing AIDS preventive efforts. These include lack
of adequate information on AIDS issues and fear of infection in the course of providing
care.
The study, thus, recommends that there is need for training the group members on
AIDS related issues, through seminars and workshops, to enable them provide accurate
and adequate information on AIDS to the local community. It also recommends that
simple medical kits consisting of gloves, disinfectants and other simple equipment,
should be freely given to care-providers, to protect themselves against the possibility of
infection in the process of providing care. Finally, many other local initiatives other than
nyoluoro groups existing at the local level, should be educated on the fact that they are
potential resource persons in the fight against AIDS in their communities. | en |
