Knowledge and practice of 'ABC' strategy of HIV prevention among Christians in the catholic and African inland churches in Thika east district, Kiambu county - Kenya
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Date
2014-07-24
Authors
Musili, Telesia Kathini
Journal Title
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Abstract
Despite the global decline in HIV prevalence, new HIV infections are on the rise. These new
HIV infections are occurring largely in stable or long-term relationships, including marriage.
This is because of heterosexual relations that defy the strict Christian teaching on sexuality,
which prohibits
premarital
sex among the unmarried
and extra marital
sex among the
married. The question therefore arises on the gap between what is prescribed
and what is
practiced especially among Christians. This study will examine the knowledge and practice
of the ABC strategy of HIV prevention as informed by the Catholic and African Inland
Church teachings on sexual morality, among Christians aged 15 - 49 years in Thika East
District (TED). The study will employ social identity theory, Kohlberg's
theory of moral
development, social interactionist theory and Smith's theory of religion to understand the
influence of institutional norms of sexuality on the Christians' sexual behavior. The study
will comprise of at least 404 participants who will be randomly sampled from a population of
1276 church members from six purposely-selected Churches that is, three Catholic Churches
and three Africa Inland Churches. Qualitative and quantitative
data will be collected using
descriptive design where structured questionnaires will be administered to all the sampled
respondents; in-depth interview schedule will be conducted amongst priest and pastors while
the young people will hold Focus Group Discussions.
The findings
of the study will
illuminate how institutional norms influence the social identities of the self as well as his/her
moral decision making regarding sexual behavior. An exploration of the contexts will reveal
a major disconnect between the Christians'/institution's
ideal norm; no premarital and extra
marital sex and the modeled norm; where the Christians make a 'moral' choice to engage in
unsafe sex. Results from the pilot study showed that the knowledge and practice of ABC
strategy is inadequate and that about 30 per cent of unmarried youth are sexually active. This
study will provide a new model, which will help in the internalization of the institutional
norms by the Christians to enhance commendable practice of ABC strategy of HIV
prevention in combination with other HIV interventions.