| dc.description.abstract | This study was designed to investigate factors that influence husband-wife communication on HIV/AIDS in Kibera, Nairobi. Specifically, I investigated whether the level of education of married couples, gender power-differences, the view of sex related topics, and age difference between spouses influenced communication on HIV/AIDS. Data was collected between April 2001 and November 2001. A total of 100 respondents were interviewed. Questionnaire and focused ethnographic interviews were the primary methods of data collection.. The data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. The study reveals that few married couples communicate to each other about HIV/AIDS. Further, there still exist some doubts regarding the mode of HIV/AIDS transmission. This may be accounted for by the low levels of education, which seems to hinder communication on HIV/AIDS. They were also not knowledgeable about effective interpersonal communication on such a sensitive topic as HIV /AIDS. Women lack economic power to. involve themselves more actively in decision-making on matters concerning condom use within marriage, sex and initiation of HIV /AIDS discussions. Gender power-differences such as lack of power in decision-making among women was also enforced by cultural practices and beliefs. These included bride wealth payment, polygamy, the man being seen as the head of the household and the provider. On the other hand, the woman being seen as the caretaker and always supposed to be submissive to the husband. The traditional view of sex related topics is still common. Many respondents felt that sex talk and therefore HIV/AIDS is not a pleasant nor is it a welcome issue to talk about anywhere, with just anybody and even with a spouse. Age differences between couples also affected communication on HIV/AIDS. Spouses found it difficult initiating such talks especially for those in polygamous unions, where younger wives tended to be much younger than their spouses. It is therefore, recommended that HIV /AIDS educational campaigns need to be emphasized using participatory methodologies. The campaigns need specifically to encourage communication within the family starting with the parents. Parents specifically need to be encouraged to both visit Voluntary and Counseling Centers (VCT) where they should be encouraged to often have HIV/AIDS talks among themselves and as a family. People, especially women, need to be empowered economically. Cultural practices and beliefs that impede effective communication about HIV/AIDS between spouses need to be discarded or modified to contain the HIV/AIDS scourge. The study revealed that women were more disadvantaged in education, economic power and in age within marriages. In conclusion, therefore, the study recommends that women should not be the only ones left to bear the responsibility of HIV/AIDS prevention through spousal communication, but men, in their cultural and economic positions of power as well as in their sexual partnerships should also be responsible for change through spousal communication on HIV/AIDS | en |
