| dc.description.abstract | This study focuses on status of HIV/AIDS management strategies in correctional settings in Kenya. Specifically, it examines in detail how the transmission and spread of HIV is mitigated by the Kenya Prison Service. To find out whether this goal is achieved, the study had three objectives viz. (a) assess how prisoners perceive the scourge of HIV in prisons; (b) establish the preparedness of the Kenya prison service to mitigate the transmission and spread of HIV in prisons and (c) to identify the current practices of managing HIV in Kenyan prisons and assess the success of such practices in containing its spread. To achieve the three objectives, the study adopted a survey research of 142 inmates. Of these, 98 (69%) were males from Kamiti and 44 (31%) were females from Lang’ata prisons. Using purposive sampling, 16 key informants were reached and gave their view on HIV management in prisons.
Data was analyzed at univariate and bivariate levels using descriptive and inferential statistics respectively. At descriptive level, the study found that Kenyan jails are dominated by male inmates. The mean age of inmates was 28.1yrs. This implies that prisons covered were dominated by young adults. On marital status, majority of inmates were married. This suggests that majority of inmates in the prisons covered were in the age bracket that is likely to be married. On education, majority of inmates had secondary education.
Drawing from the study findings, about half of the inmates covered reported to be HIV positive. This could be attributed to high prevalence of HIV among inmates in the prisons studied. Data on inmates’ knowledge about HIV indicated that majority of inmates were exposed to HIV information. VCT centres were available in both prisons and this is where majority of inmates got exposed to HIV/AIDS information in both prisons. Thus, VCT centres played a key role in informing inmates about HIV/AIDS.
Bivariate analysis was used to measure relationships between and among variables by finding out how the background factors influenced the frequency of visiting the VCT centre by inmates. Age and frequency of visiting the VCT centre was statistically significant relationship at 0.05 probability level. The relationship was weak as indicated by the value of Contingency Coefficient (0.09). Duration of imprisonment and frequency of visiting the VCT centre was also statistically significant at 0.05 probability level. The relationship was weak as indicated by the value of Contingency Coefficient (0.19).
Based on the study findings, the main obstacles to effective implementation of HIV/AIDS management programs in Kenyan prisons appear to be viz. a) high prevalence of HIV by inmates; b) lack of clear and proper mechanism of identifying the HIV positive inmates; c) congestion in prisons; d) poor access to health care services; e) inadequate knowledge about HIV; f) inadequately exposure to HIV information by inmates; f) poor facilitation of continuity of HIV programs in the transition from prison to community as well as g) lack of elaborate post-release or discharge planning program to sick and terminally ill patients.
Therefore, the study recommends that, mandatory HIV testing on entry in prisons should be introduced to enable inmates to discover their HIV status. A standard of prison medical services that meets the principle of equivalence should be provided to inmates. Elaborate discharge planning program should be made available for inmates in Kenyan prisons to enable prisoners who enter the later stages of terminal illnesses like HIV/AIDS access palliative care | en_US |
