Assessing conformity of HIV and AIDS education to acceptable communication principles

Abstract

HIV epidemic remains a serious health concern that has claimed thousands of lives and orphaned millions of children. This study analysed effective communication planning and implementation process among non-governmental organizations providing HIV and AIDS education.The study’s overall objective was to analyse the planning and implementation of the communication interventions within non-governmental organisations dealing with HIV and AIDS. The study aimed at analysing the planning of the communication process of HIV and AIDS NGO’s with focus on assessing their conformity with acceptable communication principles. The research was conducted in Nairobi and Kisumu. Sample was drawn from of six hundred and forty-five organisations registered by the Kenya NGO AIDS Consortium (KANCO). Two hundred and sixty organisations offered educational and communication interventions and these were isolated for study. The researcher used both primary and secondary sources of data. Semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interview guides were the methods used to collect primary data. Data collected from primary source was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while data from the key informant interviews were analysed along thematic areas and used to support the information derived from the semi-structured interviews. Triangulation, graphics and bar charts and pie charts were the methods used to present findings.  The study disclosed the presence of components of behaviour change communication, combined with awareness-raising for about 50% of the organisations. The conclusion of the study was that about a half of the organisations had embraced effective communication principles in the implementation of their interventions.