Factors Affecting the Response of Christian Students towards HIV/AIDS Edpidemic in selected Kenyan Public Universities

Abstract

This study involved an investigation of the factors affecting the response of Christian students towards HIV/AIDS in selected Kenyan public universities. HIV/AIDS is a national disaster in Kenya. with 240.000 Kenyans dying every ye:n and over 2 million infected. This research was an attempt to find out whether the students' response was affected by gender. location of the Christian Union (CU). level of factual information, involvement in HIV/AIDS activities, and interaction with people living with I-IIV/AIDS (PLWI-IAs). The researcher developed a written questionnaire to answer the research questions and null hypotheses which had been formulated. The research population was composed of Christian students who were Christian Union members from four selected university campuses. The questionnaires were administered directly to the sampled students and the resultant data analvscd. The study revealed that the students are generally positively inclined towards IIIV/AIDS issues. They viewed HIV/AIDS as a critical issue in Kenya. It was observed that there was no significant difference between male and female students in their response towards I-IIVIAIDS. The research further showed that the locality of the CU affected the Christian students' response towards HlV/AIDS. That is. students from urban CUs exhibited a higher IIIV/AIDS knowledge level compared to those from periurban CUs. The research assumed that students with high level of factual knowledge about HIV/AIDS would be more involved in HIV/AIDS activities and would interact more with PLWHAs. However, the findings revealed that the level of factual information did not affect the students' involvement in HIV/AIDS activities and interaction with PLWHAs. It was also established that Christian students who had been involved in AIDS awareness activities had a better response towards HIV/AIDS compared to those who had not. Lastly, the research did not show interaction with PLWI-IAs as a significant (actor in the students' response towards HIV/AIDS. In other words, there was no significant difference between Christian students who had interacted with PLWI-IAs and those who had not. in their response towards HIV/AIDS. The study also explored ways in which the response of Christian students towards HIVI AIDS could be improved. Some of the key suggestions were: public talks on III HVIAIDS. use of mass-media. incorporating HIVI AIDS into the education curriculum, HI V/AIDS seminars and workshops. video shows and films about AIDS. the need to 100·e.encourage and give hope to PLWI-IAs, and avoiding stigmatizing PLWHAs. The suggestions were very insightful and ought to form a basis for serious consideration by anyone wishing to be involved in HIV/AIDS education among the students.