Abstract
The current study was carried out to assess the level of perception, awareness, knowledge, attitude and practice (PAKAP) towards HIV and AIDS scourge amongst sexually active online partners through Nation Media Company in Kenya. The data obtained from 820 advertisements (equivalent to 820 field respondents) while considering their educational levels, age, ethnicity, socio-economic backgrounds etc were utilized. The Pearson Chi-Square and Fisher’s Exact Tests were used to analyze data. Results showed that persons involved had a statistically significant perception towards HIV and AIDS (p < 0.05). Knowledge and awareness of HIV and AIDS were significant by level of education and economic status and not by gender, age, marital status, type of relationship sought and getting children before marriage. Attitude towards HIV and AIDS was significant by level of education (p < 0.05) and not by gender, age, economic status, marital status, type of relationship sought and getting children before marriage (p > 0.05). Practices to manage, control and prevent HIV and AIDS were significant by gender (p = 0.01) and not by age, level of education, economic status, marital status, type of relationship sought and getting children before marriage (p > 0.05). Since the results indicated PAKAP was significant (p < 0.05), efforts should be made by all stakeholders in HIV and AIDS management, control and prevention programmes to equally target persons dating through social media in order to have a wider coverage for this kind of dating is increasingly becoming the most common practice amongst the sexually active group.
Highlights
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most complex health problems of the 21st century in its fourth decade and has become a pandemic that threatens the world population [22]
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV worldwide, accounting for over two thirds (67%) of all people living with HIV and for nearly three quarters (72%) of AIDS-related deaths by 2010 [21]
The severity of HIV and AIDS epidemic may be more pronounced in less-developed countries, where lower socioeconomic status might be well positioned in the society to determine the impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic on the target population [26, 27]
Summary
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most complex health problems of the 21st century in its fourth decade and has become a pandemic that threatens the world population [22]. With no vaccine and/or treatment or cure the disease may continue spreading at an alarming rate [21]. An estimated 36.9 million people live with HIV [22]. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV worldwide, accounting for over two thirds (67%) of all people living with HIV and for nearly three quarters (72%) of AIDS-related deaths by 2010 [21]. The number of people living with HIV in Kenya includes about 1.1 million adults between 15 and years, another 60,000 persons from years of age and over, and approximately 120, 000 children [21]. Since HIV weakens the host’s immune system, associated opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis
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