Browsing by Author "Lokorio, Ekidor Ateyo"

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    Uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcison Services and Associated Pyschosocial and Knowledge Based Factors among Men in Turkana County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2024-04) Lokorio, Ekidor Ateyo
    Kenya is amongst six high-burden nations in Africa grappling high HIV infections. Approximately 91.2% of Kenyan men have undergone circumcision. However, male circumcision is rarely practiced in Turkana community with male circumcision rates ranging from 5-10%. The study's goals were to identify the influences on consensual medical male circumcision acceptance in Turkana County caused by socio-cultural variables, psychological aspects, social-economic variables, and knowledge-driven factors. Utilizing a researcher-administered survey, KII schedules, and a FGD guide, data was gathered. 434 males made up the sample size. Cross-sectional methodology was used in the investigation. The data was analyzed with SPSS 22. Results showed that of 374 male participants in the study, 79.9% had undergone circumcision, 77.0% were aged 18-35 years, 94.1% were Christians, and 44.7% were unemployed while 54.8% were married. The overall mean scores of responses for socio-cultural factors, psychosocial factors, socio-economic factors, and information sources factors were 3.230 (neutral), 3.602 (positive), 2.894 (negative) and 3.48 (neutral), respectively. The study found that psychological factors, socio-cultural factors, socioeconomic factors, and information sources were significant predictors of embracing VMMC. Sociocultural factors were about 1.522 times more likely to increase uptake of VMMC (AOR= 1.522); p=0.034]. Psychological factors were predicted to increase uptake of VMMC by 1.544 (AOR= 1.554; p=0.028). Social economic factors were predicted to increase uptake of VMMC by 1.068 (AOR = 1.068; p=0.018). Information sources were predicted to increase uptake of VMMC by 1.622 (AOR= 1.622; P=0.013). Thus, this led to the rejection of all the research null hypothesis and the study concluded that socio-cultural, social-economic, psychosocial, and knowledge-based information sources have a positive and significant influence on uptake of VMMC in Turkana County. Additionally, this research recommends that the County Executive Committee members for Health services and sanitation in Turkana County should develop campaigns that respect and integrate local customs, traditions, and religious beliefs, emphasizing how VMMC aligns with these values. They should also train and mobilize peer educators who can relate to the community, sharing accurate information and subjective experiences to dispel myths and misconceptions. The study also advocates for additional educational programs at different educational levels in schools where tailored information about VMMC benefits and HIV/AIDS education will be made easily accessible and comprehensive to all groups of male students. Policymakers in the county government should also advocate for the local leadership to be adequately trained so that they can mobilize communities, sensitize, and educate them about behavioral change and the importance of VMMC.
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    Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Services and Related Psychosocial Factors among Men in Kenya
    (IJTMRPH, 2024-08) Lokorio, Ekidor Ateyo; Mwanzo, Isaac; Ogweno, Gordon
    Background and Objective: Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) has been popularized over the years as a public health intervention geared toward reducing HIV infection. Turkana County, inhabited mainly by traditionally uncircumcised communities with a high prevalence of HIV at 4%, has however only achieved between 5% and 10%, which is below the national average of VMMC strategic target. This study, therefore, sought to determine the association between the uptake of VMMC and associated factors amongst adult men. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Loima, Turkana Central and Turkana North sub-counties, with a sample size of 434 adult men. Data was collected using both quantitative and qualitative tools. Statistical package for the Social Science version 22 was used to analyze quantitative data, whereas qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Results: Of the 374 male participants in the study, 79.9% had undergone circumcision, 77.0% were aged 18– 35 years, 94.1% were Christians, 44.7% were unemployed and 54.8% were married. The overall mean scores of responses for psychosocial and socioeconomic factors were 3.602 (positive) and 2.894 (negative), respectively. The study found that only psychological factors were significant predictors of embracing VMMC. Conclusion and Implications for Translation: Psychosocial and socioeconomic factors have a significant influence on the uptake of VMMC among male participants in Turkana County. Therefore, there is a need to address these factors when designing interventions to improve VMMC uptake in the county