Dean Of Students Research Articles

Disclosures 18: How to refuse an internal request

Last month, I sort of left you hanging. I was discussing internal disclosures of education records. And, at the end of the column, I mentioned a situation where a security director asked the dean of students for access to the judicial hearings files under the control of that dean. When asked why he needed those records, he simply said his responsibility to the college required that he be given unlimited access to those records to secure the campus from any threats. That last part was not included in last month's column.

Exploring the Higher-Level Leadership Inside the Student Affairs Department at International Universities in Europe

Student Affairs divisions at universities experience the highest number of turnover in Human Resources: people come to work and do not stay more than a year in their job positions due to burnout, overload of responsibilities, and insufficient resources. Considering that Student Affairs` leadership is hierarchical, Student Deans and Department Directors are often overlooked as people who might experience similar feelings as other workers in the division. There is no research about the experiences of higher-level leaders in Student Affairs. Therefore the main question of this qualitative study was, “What does it mean to be a department head?” In this study, five higher-level leaders in Student Affairs at International Universities in Europe answered a few questions about their meaning, experiences, and desirable changes that they need in their position during the semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis was used to code the interviews and converge the codes in themes and subthemes. As a result, five themes emerged and included: meaning, responsibility, relationship, mental health, and changes. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of the experience and needs of workers in higher-level leadership positions in Student Affairs to increase the retention rates at Student Affairs. Considering the constantly changing nature of things in Student Affairs, research that includes more universities across Europe is needed to identify and address the needs of professionals specifically in Student Affairs at International Universities.

Cyberbullying in Kenyan universities: Lessons and insights from the personal experience of deans of students

Cyberbullying in Kenyan universities: Lessons and insights from the personal experience of deans of students

The Prevalence of Drug Abuse as it Relates to Psychosocial Reasons among University Athletes in Selected Competitive Sports in Kenya

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of drug abuse as it relates to psychosocial reasons that include peer pressure, social environment, emotional state and relationships; among university athletes involved in selected competitive sports.
 Methodology: The study used a mixed methods research design with an intention to capture and utilize both qualitative and quantitative data. The study sample comprised 300 respondents. Out of the 300 students, 173 (57.7%) were male and 127 (42.3%) were female players derived from six selected competitive sports at the universities in Kenya. The selected sports were badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer and rugby. Stratified sampling followed by simple random sampling was used to select 10 universities proportionately (4 private and 6 public), the method was the most appropriate to capture universities with women rugby in addition to the five other selected sports. The study sought to investigate the prevalence of drug abuse due to factors such as psychosocial, medicinal and competition. SPSS computer version 20 was used to process data. The data was presented in form of tables.
 Findings: Data indicated clearly that athletes had abused drugs due to various psychosocial reasons. The prevalence per gender was close at 18% and 12.12% for males and females respectively. Peer pressure was regarded as a great contributor to drug abuse among the youth. Another psychosocial indicator is the emotional state of a particular individual. Students, just like other members of society, go through various challenging situations in life. The other indicator regarding drug abuse due to psychosocial factors is depression. Four (4, 40%) of the 10 dean of students interviewed said that students were victims of drug abuse due to depression. They alluded the depression cases mostly to relationship issues and financial challenges while the students are in session. The data was presented in form of Tables.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social Learning Theory, Stress-Coping Theory and Social Control Theory may be used to anchor future studies. It is recommended that university athletes be sensitized on proper use of sports to relieve stress and maintain emotional balance. Further, only qualified coaches and sports officers should be allowed to mentor and man sports in the universities. According to some heads of sports seven out of the ten (70%) and 4 of the 10 (40%) deans of students interviewed, some coaches may not report cases of drug abuse by athletes. This could be attributed to the fact that the coaches, who mostly are on casual basis, could fear experiencing bad blood with the players thereby threatening their jobs. Trained sports officers and coaches should accompany the university athletes always and act as worthy mentors to the young athletes.

Support Services for International Graduate Students at Makerere University

Makerere University is focused on being a research-led university, which necessitates it embrace an internationalisation agenda to fit into the global research network. There is a need to boost the number of international graduate students to help Makerere University realise her vision. This qualitative study explores how international graduate students are supported at Makerere University. The following objective guided it: to explore how international graduate students are supported at Makerere University. The study was anchored in the interpretivism world view, subscribing to the transcendental phenomenology of Edmund Husserl to uncover the support given to international graduate students. Eight international graduate students at Makerere University were interviewed and selected from different academic disciplines categorised according to Becher and Biglan's classification of academic disciplines. Both unstructured interviews and documentary check data generation strategies were used in this study. Data analysis followed a thematic approach whereby various forms of support were provided to international graduate students at Makerere University, and how it is provided was identified. It was concluded that those international graduate students received non-academic and academic support at Makerere University. This study recommends that Makerere University Management provide financial, human, and physical resources to the International Office as ways of facilitating international graduate students to complete their study programs and attracting many more to join the University. The International Office may work with the Office of the Dean of Students to organise events for graduate students to facilitate interactions between international and domestic students, and they may also put in place peer mentors for new international graduate students to foster a sense of community. This study recommends that the International Office work very closely with the schools in the different Colleges of Makerere University, especially establishing a desk officer in each of the Dean's Office to handle issues of international students as this may improve their numbers at Makerere University. Finally, the university management should strengthen and streamline the activities of the International Office at Makerere University

Influence of Peer Counselling Strategies on Gender-based Violence among Students in Selected Private Tertiary Institutions in Thika Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya

Statement of the Problem: Peer-counselling plays an important role in minimizing instances of gender-based violence among students. However, in Thika Sub-county, cases of gender-based violence among students in private tertiary institutions have been on the rise. Purpose of the Study: To assess the influence of peer counselling strategies on gender-based violence among students in private tertiary institutions in Thika Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted mixed methodology and thus applied concurrent triangulation research design. Target population comprised 58 deans of students, 113 college counsellors and 2356 peer-counsellors totaling 2527 respondents from which a sample of 345 respondents (13.6%) was obtained using Yamane’s Formula. Stratified sampling was applied to create five strata based on zones in Thika Sub-county. From each zone, five deans of students and five college counsellors from five colleges were sampled using purposive sampling. However, from each zone, simple random sampling was applied to select 59 peer counsellors to avoid bias. This sampling procedure realized a sample size of 25 deans of students, 25 college counsellors and 295 peer counsellors. A questionnaire was used to collect data from peer counsellors whereas an interview guide was used to collect data from deans of students and college counsellors. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically along the objectives and presented in narrative forms. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages and inferential statistics such as linear regression analysis with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-Version 23) and presented using tables. Findings: The study found that cases of gender-based violence among students in private tertiary colleges have been on the rise for the last five years (2018 to 2022). However, introduction of peer counselling strategies has not, to a great extent, reduced instances of GBV among students. Recommendations: Private colleges should continue training students as peer-counsellors to help model behaviour patterns of their peers. They should continue planning and organizing counselling sessions for students to enable them generate solutions to their behavioural problems without depending on any significant adult.

Motives and Consequences of Premarital Cohabitation Practices among University Students in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania

This study was done in order to establish motives and consequences of premarital cohabitation practices among university students in Iringa Municipality through qualitative research approach and phenomenological research design. Snowball and purposive sampling were used to obtain a representative sample of 36 students, 3 deans of students, 3 wardens, and 4 ministers of residences. The obtained data was subjected to thematic analysis and presented in quotes of respondents’ voices. The findings indicate that university students do cohabit to meet accommodation demands, not lose sexual lovers, exercise freedoms and acquire status from their peers, satisfy sexual urges and secure financial collaboration from partners. Furthermore, cohabitation leads students to encounter unplanned pregnancies, engage in abortions, attain poor academic performance, acquire sexual transmitted diseases, be subjected to physical and sexual abuse, emotional neglect and psychological disturbances. Therefore, it is recommended that students should not cohabit because the practice is associated with negative effects that may hinders life goals and expectations.

Criminal History in Undergraduate Admissions: A Racial Equity Analysis of Administrator Perspectives

Using original data collected from a national survey, this research examines the perceptions of administrators in the functional areas of Admissions, Dean of Students, and Student Affairs regarding the use of criminal history questions in undergraduate admissions. We use a lens of equity mindedness to analyze whether administrators connect criminal history questions in admissions to inequalities of punishment, and find that administrators working for institutions that require disclosure overwhelmingly agree or somewhat agree with the practice.

Effect of Gender on Stressful Experiences of First Year Students. An inside from a public university in Kenya.

The present study examined the effect of gender on stressful experiences of first year students in one selected public university in Kenya. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted to guide data collection. The participants were one hundred and ninety eight first year students (198) at one university. Quantitative data was obtained using Stress Questionnaire. Inferential analysis by use of independent t-test was used to test hypothesis. The findings indicated that there are significant gender differences in stressful experiences on academic demands, psychological and social relationship and financial difficulties among the first year university students. Therefore, this implies that Dean of students at universities should design support mechanisms to support female students in coping with stressors as new students.

Curbing cyberbullying on Facebook: An analysis of mitigation strategies in universities in Kenya

Cyberbullying is the wilful and repeated use of electronic devices and platforms to harm others. It is becoming increasingly practised amongst university students in digital spaces. This paper examines the mitigation strategies Kenyan university students and administrators adopt to help curb cyberbullying. The study underpinning this paper applied mixed methods research approach employing both qualitative and quantitative studies. The total population of undergraduate students was 610,563, while that of the dean of students was 49. The study used stratified and information-oriented sampling techniques. The study sample comprised 4,770 undergraduate students and 24 deans of students from 16 public and eight private chartered universities in Kenya. Quantitative data was collected from the students using questionnaires. Qualitative data was also collected from the students using focus group discussions and deans of students using key informant interviews. The study's findings indicate that students responded to cyberbullying by enhancing their online security, blocking perpetrators of cyberbullying, flagging and reporting offenders, seeking counselling, and taking legal action against them. The effectiveness of these strategies varied depending on the type of cyberbullying suffered. The authors conclude that cyberbullying is a prevalent socio-technological ill affecting undergraduate students in universities in Kenya. A myriad of strategies to cope with the vice has been adopted. However, this paper recommends concerted efforts of the students, deans of students, universities, government, and society in devising and implementing comprehensive strategies for curbing cyberbullying in universities in Kenya.

Bottlenecks to Inclusive Higher Education for Students with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Tanzania

This study explored the bottlenecks to the inclusive higher education for students with disabilities (SWD) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzaniaand ways proposed to overcome them. The study useda qualitative approach that was informed by the phenomenological and multiple holistic case study design. A total of 158 research participants from four higher learning institutions in Tanzania were involved. They included 28 academic staff and 28 wardens who were selected through simple random selection.Others were 4 deans of students, 80 students with disabilities, 2 students’ leaders with disabilities, 8 personal assistants of students with physical impairments,and 8 heads of academic departments (these were purposively selected). The sample size was, however, determined by the point of saturation. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussion (FGD), and direct observation where thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that allocation of rooms without consideration to SWDs and their personal assistants, difficulties in accessing information, unhygienic hostels, mobility difficulties, difficulties in access to preventive facilities and inadequate counselling services were part of the bottlenecks to inclusive higher education among SWD during COVID-19. The paper suggestsways to overcome the bottlenecks to inclusive education such as allocating rooms for SWDs and their assistants, improvement of infrastructures, orientation on mobility, and purchasing facilities and equipment which improvehygiene within inclusive education. It is recommended in this paper that the universities should establish units and resource centres well furnished with necessary equipment for students with disabilities which will be responsible for all matters related to SWDs.

In Memoriam – Joseph Wieczerzak

Dr. Joseph Walter Wieczerzak was born on January 1, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey, and passed away on September 10, 2022, at 91 years old, in Greenwich, Connecticut.Dr. Wieczerzak attended Stuyvesant High school as a science major, graduating in 1946. In 1952, he earned a BA from Brooklyn College. During the Korean War in 1952–1955, Wieczerzak served in the US Army as a translator at the rank of sergeant. Under the GI Bill, Wieczerzak earned his MA and then PhD in European history from New York University. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and was fluent in several languages.Dr. Wieczerzak's distinguished academic career included tenure as a European history professor at Bronx Community College, where he taught for over twenty years. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of The Polish Review, a quarterly journal of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America, for seventeen years. Dr. Wieczerzak was active in the Kosciuszko Foundation, Polish American Historical Association (President, 1970; Miecislaus Haiman Award, 1980), and the Polish National Catholic Church, serving for many years as Dean of Students at the Savonarola Seminary in Scranton, Pennsylvania.In 2008 Dr. Wieczerzak was honored with a City of New York Commendation for inspiring generations of students at Bronx Community College, and for his scholarly achievements. Among others, he authored A Polish Chapter in Civil War America: The Effects of the January Insurrection on American Opinion and Diplomacy (1967) and edited Bishop Francis Hodur: Biographical Essays (1998). Together with Theodore L. Zawistowski, Dr. Wieczerzak worked to create the PNCC History and Archives Commission, which he eventually chaired and served as editor of the scholarly journal, PNCC Studies. He also served on the Bishop Hodur Biography Commission of the Central Diocese PNCC.Outside the world of scholarship, Joseph Wieczerzak loved to sing, including in concerts of the PNCC United Choirs of the New York–New Jersey Seniorate. He was a friend, mentor, and collaborator to many in PAHA, being always willing to share his advice and knowledge with others.He will be greatly missed.

Cultivating Peace as a Socialization Outcome in Universities: The Role of Institutional-based Religious Students’ Associations

The search for peace and harmony entails many life aspects across the globe and various institutions. While the common conflicts in Kenya are skewed on tribal, political, and family orientations, the effects spread into institutions of higher learning. It is on this background that the need for cultivating peace in universities through nurtured socialisation outcomes is attributed to students’ association. The article emanates from a study conducted in 2020-2021 with the purpose of examining the influence of students’ associations on educational socialisation outcomes among students in selected universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. Guided by Structural Functionalist Theory, the study used a mixed-methods design. The target population of students in ten chartered universities in Nairobi County. The researcher used a sample of 3 universities and achieved involved 167 students. Using stratified and simple random sampling techniques combined with purposive sampling, the study selected universities, deans of students, and individual association members. Data was gathered using an observation checklist, and questionnaire for students, and an interview schedule for deans of students. The researcher piloted the research instruments in one of the private universities that were not among the main study sites. The reliability and validity of the instruments were checked using the split-half technique and critically assessing the consistency of the responses on the pilot questionnaires. The data collected was then analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. The major finding was that participation in students’ religious association activities influenced educational socialisation outcomes. The outcomes can be harnessed into creating peaceful and harmonious co-existence in institutions of higher learning through which cultural, religious, and political diversities can be shared for the socio-wellbeing of the university community. The study recommends the embracing of students’ religious-based associations by university administrators to foster peace education.

Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Cyberbullying on Facebook among Undergraduate Students in Kenyan Universities

This study investigated on factors influencing the occurrence of cyberbullying on Facebook among undergraduate students in Kenyan Universities. The study employed the mixed methods. Data was collected from 3,020 undergraduate students and 24 deans of students from 16 public and 8 private chartered universities in Kenya. A questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from students while qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions with the students and key informant interviews with the deans of students. Qualitative data was analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti while quantitative data was analysed statistically using STATA. The findings revealed that most undergraduate students in Kenyan universities experienced cyberbullying on Facebook. Factors which influenced the prevalence include number of friends and interactions on Facebook as well as selected demographic attributes. The study recommends that students should be made aware of the prevalence of cyberbullying through a comprehensive sensitisation programme in universities. Users of Facebook should be cautious about their interactions online by limiting friendships with strangers. Finally, students should use security settings to block or report bullying offences.

Disabled Trans Sex Working College Students: Results from the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey

Using data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, this paper explores disabled transgender sex working college students’ experiences within sex work economies and within other paid labor force economies, experiences while in/at college, and self-reported health outcomes. Findings indicate that disabled transgender college students experience far-reaching discrimination, harassment, violence, and economic precarity while in school. At least 11% have engaged in sex work economies, and this may partly be explained by their labor force and educational experiences. The discussion highlights specific implications for and suggestions about how to improve Identity-Based services (e.g., LGBTQ Centers, Race/Ethnicity-Based Centers, Religious Centers, Student Disability Services, Financial Aid, etc.), Health-Based services (e.g., Student Health, Counseling Services, Wellness Center, etc.), and Administrative and Policy-Based services (e.g., Dean of Students, Student Conduct, Career Service, etc.) on college campuses. We conclude that our work sheds light on how all students, but particularly disabled trans sex working students, would benefit from being better economically resourced, with stronger administrative support via cross-collaborative partnerships and programming, and informed and competent service providers, who work together—and not in isolation—to provide education to the broader campus community and outreach directly for sex positive student sexual health.

Influence of the Level of Family Social Support of Student Mothers on the Psychological Wellbeing, Egerton University, Kenya

In pursuit of intimate relationships, students in Kenyan Universities end up getting pregnant before completing their undergraduate degree programmes. Upon giving birth, the students have to balance between the roles of motherhood and attend to student obligations. Striking a balance between the dual roles becomes a challenge to majority of the student mothers. The strain involved in balancing the roles results into psychosocial challenges. Some of these challenges include; level of participation in student activities, level of interpersonal relationships, level of family social support and motherhood stigmatization. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of selected psychosocial challenges and coping strategies on the psychological wellbeing of student mothers among undergraduate students at Egerton University, Kenya. This study was guided by role conflict theory and the strain theory. The study used descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 91 respondents comprising of 82 student mothers, eight student counselors and one Dean of Students.Census sampling method was used to select the entire population. Data was collected using close-ended questionnaire for student mothers and interview schedule for student counselors and the Dean of Students. The instruments were validated by two supervisors and discipline research experts from the Faculty of Education and Community. The reliability analysis was based on a pilot study that was conducted in Maseno University involving eight student mothers. From the pilot study, the study revealed that the overall questionnaire reliability with 43 items was 0.838. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 was used to analyze data. The study found out that there was statistically significance influence on the level of participation of student mothers in student activities (β=0.217, р <0.05), interpersonal relationships (β=0.188, р <0.05), family social support (β=0.261, р <0.05), coping strategies (β=0.125, р <0.05) and motherhood stigmatization (β= - 0.203, р <0.05) on the psychological wellbeing of student mothers at 5% significance level. The study recommended development of a special counseling program for student mothers on personal, academic, social and psychological issue. Keywords: Interpersonal relationships, Stigmatization, Psychological wellbeing; coping, Strategies and family social support. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-29-06 Publication date: October 31 st 2022

Influence of Parental Separation Anxiety-Induced Traumatic Stress on Substance Use among the Youth in Private and Public Universities in Lang’ata Constituency, Nairobi County

Substance use among the youth has been on the rise in Kenya; leading to a lot of psychosocial problems. In spite of varied initiatives by the Kenya Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as the local and international community to control substance use, very little, less progress has been achieved hence, the need to study in detail the psychosocial factors associated with substance use among the youths in private and public Universities. The study investigated the influence of separation anxiety on substance use among the youths in private and public universities in Lang’ata Constituency, Nairobi County specifically, the Co-operative University of Kenya and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT, Karen Campus), The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and Tangaza University College (TUC). The research employed descriptive survey design and the target population of 140 comprising: students, counsellors, and deans of students. A sample size of 104 participants was selected using stratified random sampling followed by Simple random sampling and Purposive sampling. The research instruments for data collection were pre-tested using Spearman’s rank-order formula for test-retest to compute the correlation coefficient to establish reliability. A correlation coefficient of + 0.65 and above was considered high enough for reliability. The study had a correlation coefficient of + 0.7 and hence, determined the reliability of the instruments, and the validity was perfected by experts. Data were collected using questionnaires, interview schedules, and the PTSD checklist to access trauma among the students. A pilot study was conducted in a neighboring public university of 14% target population participants to correct the instruments and for triangulation purposes. Descriptive statistics including mean, frequency tables, percentages, and ratios as well as inferential statistics including Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the data with the help of the Advanced Microsoft Excel Package for Data Analysis. The study established that the interaction between parental separation anxiety significantly influenced university students on substance use (dependent variable) (r=0.570). Based on the study findings, it is recommended that there should be strong therapeutic interventions for students suffering from separation anxiety. This can be done by the universities as well as civil society organizations through guidance and counselling as well as social support interventions. The government, through security agencies, should provide strong bulwarks against physical violence targeted at students.

Availability of Learning Resources and Management of KCSE Irregularities in Nairobi County, Kenya

Examinations play a critical role in the education sector in assessing learners' knowledge and skill mastery. Therefore, they must be credible and free of irregularities. However, over the years, Kenya has seen an increase in examination malpractice. This has compelled the Kenya National Examination Council to devise some solutions to these problems. Despite the strict measures in place, several cases of KCSE examination irregularities every year are usually reported. This demonstrates that none of the existing measures have been able to eliminate examination malpractices, particularly in secondary schools in Nairobi County. This study investigated the impact of learning resource availability on the management of KCSE examination irregularities in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study population included all 99 secondary schools in Nairobi County, of which 80 were chosen. The descriptive survey design was used. The principal, dean of students, student leaders, and the county director of education were the units of observation. Data was gathered using an interview guide and questionnaires. The instruments were pre-tested to ensure their content, construct validity, and reliability. Data were analyzed by computing descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS. The study discovered a positive link between the availability and the management of KCSE irregularities. The study, therefore, concluded that adequate learning resources such as laboratory equipment, instructional or teaching aids, textbooks, revision books, a well-equipped school library, and spacious classrooms were very helpful in the management of examination irregularities. It recommended that sufficient funds be committed to developing school infrastructure, facilities, equipment, and learning resources and that the government, through the ministry of education, disburse adequate funds and material resources. The findings provide new insight on how to address examination irregularities.

An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Biomedical Intervention Strategies Employed towards the Mitigation of HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour among Students in Institutions of Higher Learning in Western Kenya

HIV has been a challenging health issue and a leading cause of ill health and demise at a global level. By the year 2017, 76.1 million people had contracted HIV worldwide, with around 38 million persons infected with HIV in the world during the year 2019 alone. The disaster furthermore stands among the top 10 deadliest epidemics throughout history and has had adverse effects on the human population since its discovery. Research studies have identified Institutions of Higher Learning, which host a significant proportion of youth, as fertile breeding grounds for HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour. As a consequence, this study assessed the effectiveness of biomedical intervention strategies employed towards the mitigation of HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour among students in Institutions of Higher Learning in Western Kenya. The study employed qualitative and quantitative approaches to ensure triangulation and crosschecking of the research process. Employed were probability and non-probability sampling techniques generally and specifically, cluster sampling then simple random sampling. Chosen was a sample size of 399 students from a population of 13,002 students at seven institutions. Key informants were sampled purposively as follows; 5 NGO officials, 6 county government officials, 6 officials working in health care centers and 6 dean of students and 1 student counsellor. Selection of four Focus Group Discussions was purposive with each FGD having eight purposively selected student leaders from four institutions. An interview administered semi-structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from students, an FGD guide for the FGDs and Key Informant interview guides for the key informants. Descriptive statistics, an index-score, qualitative analysis and chi-square and were done for analysis. The HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour index-score revealed that a majority 269 (67.4%) of the respondents are involved in HIGH HIV Risky Sexual Behaviours. From chi-square tests, regarding behavioural strategies, information provision and counselling and other forms of psycho-social support are found to be statistically significant with p-value = 0.007 and p-value = 0.080 respectively. The study concludes that HIV incidence and prevalence rates in these institutions are likely to double in the near future if stakeholders continue to apply mitigation strategies in the exact manner they are currently doing. The study recommends an enhancement of the provision of male and female condoms, HIV testing and counselling services, testing and treatment of STIs, provision of Needle and Syringe Programmes, provision of Opioid Substitution Therapy and promotion of VMMC. Keywords: Effectiveness, Biomedical intervention strategies, mitigation, HIV, Risky Sexual Behaviour among students in Institutions of Higher Learning DOI: 10.7176/ALST/94-04 Publication date: August 31 st 2022

An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Behavioural Intervention Strategies Employed towards the Mitigation of HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour among Students in Institutions of Higher Learning in Western Kenya

Researchers have confirmed that the reason for the relatively high HIV incidence among people between 15-24 years globally is Risky Sexual Behaviour. Researchers subsequently identified a challenge regarding effective mitigation of the behaviour world over. They further identified Institutions of Higher Learning, which host a significant proportion of youth, as fertile breeding grounds for this behaviour. This study consequently evaluated the strategies employed in the mitigation of HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour among students in these institutions in Western Kenya overall, and specifically; evaluated the HIV prevention behavioural. The study employed qualitative and quantitative approaches to ensure triangulation and crosschecking of the research process. Employed were probability and non-probability sampling techniques generally and specifically, cluster sampling then simple random sampling. Chosen was a sample size of 399 students from a population of 13,002 students at seven institutions. Key informants were sampled purposively as follows; 5 NGO officials, 6 county government officials, 6 officials working in health care centers and 6 dean of students and 1 student counsellor. Selection of four Focus Group Discussions was purposive with each FGD having eight purposively selected student leaders from four institutions. An interview administered semi-structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from students, an FGD guide for the FGDs and Key Informant interview guides for the key informants. Descriptive statistics, an index-score, qualitative analysis and chi-square and were done for analysis. The HIV Risky Sexual Behaviour index-score revealed that a majority 269 (67.4%) of the respondents are involved in HIGH HIV Risky Sexual Behaviours. From chi-square tests, regarding behavioural strategies, information provision and counselling and other forms of psycho-social support are found to be statistically significant with p-value = 0.007 and p-value = 0.080 respectively. The study concludes that HIV incidence and prevalence rates in these institutions are likely to double in the near future if stakeholders continue to apply mitigation strategies in the exact manner they are currently doing. At behavioural level, the study thus recommends enhancing counselling and other forms of psychosocial support and stigma, and discrimination reduction programmes. Keywords: Effectiveness, Behavioural Intervention Strategies, Mitigation. HIV, Risky Sexual Behaviour, Students, Institutions, Higher Learning DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/12-16-05 Publication date: August 31 st 2022