Factors Influencing Youth Living With HIV/AIDS Participating In Support Programs In Kayole Sub Countylevel II Hospital

Abstract

The fast widespread of HIV/AIDS internationally is a challenge to the healthcare system for the affected people and their families. As a response, the HIV/ AIDS support groups have found solutions to supporting and caring the PLWHA through non-governmental officials, governmental, surrounding society, and the PLWHA. The primary goal of this study was investigating different factors that influence youth living with HIV to join social support programs in Kayole Sub Countylevel II hospital. The study was set to assess the influence of stigmatization on HIV positive youth joining social support programs; to examine the influence of adherence to antiretroviral therapy on HIV positive youth joining social support programsas well asexamining the influence of the desire to achieve positive mental health outcomes on HIV positive youth joining social support programs. The study will be significant toyouths living with HIV since they will be able to know the importance of social support programs and therefore makes efforts to join the support groups. At the community and national level, the findings will inform the improvement of support programs in health centers. The study was based on Ecological systems theory. The research employed a cross-section survey design where the targeted research groups consisted of 220 respondents. The interview guide and questionnaires will be used in data collection. The researcher will pre-test the instruments through piloting to familiarize with data collection process and improve their validity. Reliability was tested through Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient method. The analysis of the quantitative data will be through the usage of both descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 21. The presentation of data was in tables. The informed consents weretaken from all the interviewees to ensure all respondents participate voluntarily and the data was used for the purpose of the study and assured confidentiality. Findings established that HIV positive youths were stigmatized against in one way or another, which to some extent affected their family members; although majority of the sampled youth were currently on ARVs, the adherence was low whereby some youths living with HIV did not take the ARVs constantly and positive HIV status affected HIV positive youths’ physical and mental health whereby poor adherence rate contributed to health deterioration. The study concludes that HIV positive youths in Kayole are still afraid of disclosing their HIV status for fear of stigmatization, ARV adherence rate amongst HIV positive youths in Kayole is low and support group members share ideas which help to reduce stress and live a healthy life. The researcher recommends that the Government should network with people living with HIV/AIDS to help them increase self-confidence and enhance the self-esteem of people living with HIV/AIDS.