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 31st 202