IN WOMEN THE FACE OF AIDS /HIV EPIDERMICS IN KENYA
NSANZE DANIEL
MASTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY
Date of submission: 2011/12/1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
.........................................................................................................................................................2
1.0 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................3
3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................................5
1
4.0 HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT...............................................................................................7
H.1 WHO ARE THE MOST AFFECTED BY THE HIV/AIDS SCOURGE?....................................7
7.0 DISCUSSIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH ..................................................18
8.0 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................22
References.....................................................................................................................................22
Date: Day __ Month ___ Year
___.................................................................................................................................................23
Abstract
Women have in most societies all over the world belonged in vulnerable populations. This is
because they are always taken to be the weaker sex whose destiny has to be decided by their
male counterparts. This paper therefore seeks to explain the reasons as to why women and
specifically Kenyan women have been adversely been affected by the HIV/AIDS Scourge unlike
their male counterparts. Various explanations are given to make the reader ascertain the truth.
Recommendations are also provide on what should be done to reverse this trend. It is through
this paper that the reader will be able to ascertain why women are always referred to as the
weaker sex.
In recent history AIDS/HIV infection has emerged as the most devastating disease in recent
history. Although, approximately as many women as men worldwide suffer from HIV, this
aggregate figure conceals marked differences in the implications of the disease for men
and women. Some of these, result from biological differences in sex between men and
women, but more result from socially defined gender differences in society.
2
Historically, Kenya has been one of the most sophisticated African countries in its approach to
issues concerning women and development, and Kenya has made impressive strides in the fight
against AIDS. However, concerned government ministries, NGOs, agencies, and activists have
not yet been brought together to address the complex subject of gender violence and AIDS.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
AIDS/HIV epidemic in Kenya
One of the most prevalent issues that is affecting women in African countries and in
Particular the Kenyan women is the HIV/AIDS Scourge. Since it burst onto the world, the
HIV/AIDS epidemic has been a scourge that has tested humanitys resilience and capacity.
Innumerable researches, speeches, workshops and other activities have been held to combat the
epidemic but it remains scarily thriving. One of the most remarkable aspects of the HIV/AIDS
virus is its ability to change or mutate and evade every trap set to ensnare and conquer it. The
Kenyan women have therefore been the most affected as a result of this epidemic whose cure has
remained elusive over a long period of time (UNAIDS, 2010).
By 1987 HIV appeared to be spreading rapidly among the population an estimated 1-2
percent of adults in Nairobi were infected with the virus, and HIV prevalence among pregnant
women in the capital had increased from 6.5 percent to a staggering 13 percent between 1989
and 1991.The government was criticized for not responding aggressively to the emerging epi demic, unlike governments in its neighboring countries, such as Uganda. The government was
also accused of playing down the threat of AIDS because of the damage it could do to Kenyas
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tourism industry. By 1994 an estimated 100,000 people had already died from AIDS and around
1 in 10 adults were infected with HIV.
Several causes have been ascertained to be the major causes of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in
Kenya. All these causes are however related to the high poverty levels that are prevalent in the
country. There is a general perception that the female sex is a weaker gender and therefore it is
supposed to rely on the male gender for survival in order to make the ends meet. It is such a
culture in most Kenyan women that has made the spread of the HIV/AIDS Scourge to be so
rampant.
The origin of the epidemic is not clear with claims and counter claims about it having an African
origin. However, what is known is that its impact started being noticed in the late seventies and
early eighties. The first reported in a country like Kenya was in 1984. Nevertheless, its short
history notwithstanding the effect of the epidemic has been on an enormous scale. The culture of
the Kenyan people has been attributed to the reasons as to why the Kenyan women have been
most affected by the ailment.
2.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In analyzing this case, this paper will seek to answer the following questions;
H.1 Who are the most affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge?
H.2 Why is this group most vulnerable to the disease?
4
H.3 What factors contribute to this exposure?
H.4 What intervention measures have been undertaken to help curb spread of the virus on this
Group?
3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
Various studies conducted in Kenya by Kenyans and other international agencies have
indicated that the number of women who are affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge in Kenya
exceeds that of men. Various reasons have been pointed towards this trend but the major one is
attributed to the culture of the Kenyan communities. It was ascertained that in most Kenyan
communities, women were banned from eating some certain types of foods because of the
cultural beliefs and taboos. It is such denial of some essential foodstuffs like eggs, fish and
chicken containing essential nutrients that make the Kenyan women to easily succumb to such
diseases as opposed to their male counterparts.
Unfortunately, the HIV/AIDS virus is unmerciful to vulnerable members of the Kenyan
society who at most times happen to be women. It especially (the HIV/AIDS) scourge makes it
home where there is poverty and underdevelopment and thus where it can cause the maximum
destruction. The sub-Saharan Africa has borne the brunt of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The figures
released by the UNAIDS are scary. They point to a dire situation in Africa. Kenya as a subSaharan country is no exception to these nightmarish figures from the UNAIDS. From various
studies conducted, it was revealed that Kenya as a nation has inadequate equipments, medical or
personnel to properly curb social problems caused as a result of HIV/AIDS among the Kenyan
women.
5
In a 2008/2009 Kenyan Report, it was ascertained that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS
among the Kenyan women was twice as high as that of men. The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS
in Kenyan women stood at 8 per cent while that of men stood at 4.3 percent. This disparity
clearly portrays how the Kenyan women have bone the brunt of this social problems. The
Kenyan women have been known to experience higher rates of sexual contact which in most
cases is violent and thus heavily contributing towards the higher prevalence of the HIV/AIDS
scourge among the female gender. In a nationwide survey that was carried out in 2003, it was
ascertained that almost half of the Kenyan women reported to have undergone violence while a
quarter of young women aged between age 12 and 14 actually lost their virginity by force.
The prevalence of poverty, and limited government resources which can be deployed to
curb this menace was the reason why this scourge (the HIV/AIDS) was most prevalent in Kenya
and specifically in women. Given the fact that Kenyan women are known to compose a higher
percentage of sexual commercial workers, this becomes the major driving force as to why they
become easily affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge compared to their male counterparts. It is
estimated that more than 1.4 million of the Kenyan population is HIV positive. This is from a
total population of 40 million of Kenyans. The spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa is mainly through
heterosexual activities with some transmission through intravenous drug use (UNAIDS, 2010).
With a prevalence of 6.7 percent and new infections of about 200,000 people every year,
the HIV/AIDS epidemic has affected all sectors of the Kenyan society. The epidemic is
concentrated among the youth thus the economy is suffering from the hemorrhage of able-bodied
workers who die in their prime times. The attendant cost associated with taking care of these
patients amount to a colossal drain on the health system and by extension, the economic health of
the country. The resultant effects of these infections and deaths that are caused by HIV/AIDS
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have a rippling effect on other sectors as well. The destitution and poverty that result from the
death of the breadwinner, produces anti-social problems such as criminality as the children left
behind turn to crime lives while their mothers turn to prostitution.
4.0 HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT
H.1 WHO ARE THE MOST AFFECTED BY THE HIV/AIDS SCOURGE?
The members most affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge in Kenya as indeed the rest of subSaharan Africa are the most vulnerable and dependent. As a proof of its penchant for the weak,
the epidemic has ravaged women and children more as compared to men. Women seem to be the
worst off as indicated by figures released by various authorities. The UNAIDS estimate that out
of all Africans of ages between 15 and 24 who are HIV positive, three quarters of them are
women. This gendered impact of the epidemic extends to Kenya where the prevalence rate of
infection for women is higher at eight percent as compared to men which is four percent. In
Kenya, 3 out of 5 people living with HIV/AIDS are female. Hence the victims of the HIV/AIDS
virus in Kenya tend to be Kenyan women of a young but sexually active age (UNGASS, 2008).
It is not an exaggeration to state that the impact of the HIV/AIDS scourge on the Kenyan
women has been devastating. With so many women, dying from the disease the life expectancy
of women has decreased at an alarming rate. The increase in life expectancy that had been
witnessed over the decades from Kenyan independence has progressively dwindled. In the most
affected areas such as the Nyanza province, it is even much worse.
H.2 WHY IS THIS GROUP MOST VULNERABLE TO THE DISEASE
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. African societies have always been male dominant therefore the women are occasionally
sidelined in society. Concerning marriage, men can have more sexual partners which endanger
the man and the wife at home. Also cross-generational sex ( older men and young girls) has
contributed to the HIV transmission in women this may due to poverty i.e young girls may have
sex with older married men in order to get material possessions like dresses, shoes, mobile
phones, and even money for school fees. Besides women are more exposed to different forms of
violence which leave them exposed to the HIV/aids virus.
National studies confirm that between 40 and 50% of Kenyan women and girls experience
different forms of violence (physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional) from childhood to adulthood.
Women who are abused or live with the threat of violence are more susceptible to contracting the
HIV/aids virus than the men . This means that at least half of Kenyan women are unable to
protect themselves from exposure to HIV.
H.3 WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THIS EXPOSURE?
In any given hetero-sexual encounter, Women are probably more susceptible than men to
infection from HIV due to biological factors the greater area of mucous membrane exposed
during sex in women than in men; the greater quantity of fluids transferred from men to women;
the higher viral content of male sexual fluids; and the micro-tears that can occur in vaginal (or
rectal) tissue from sexual penetration. Young women may be especially susceptible to infection
Gender norms may also have an impact on HIV transmission. For example, in many places,
gender norms allow men to have more sexual partners than women, and encourage older men to
have sexual relations with much younger women. In combination with the biological factors
8
cited above, this means that, in most places where heterosexual sex is the main mode of HIV
transmission, infection rates are much higher among young women than among young men.
Forced sex, which all too many women (and some men) experience at some point in
their lives can make HIV transmission even more likely, since it may result in more
trauma and tissue tearing.
Women may remain ignorant of the facts of sexuality and HIV/AIDS because they are
not supposed to be sexually knowledgeable, while men may remain ignorant because
they are supposed to be sexually all-knowing.
H.4 WHAT INTERVENTION MEASURES HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO HELP
CURB SPREAD OF THE VIRUS ON THIS GROUP?
In 1999, the government under the leadership of President Daniel Arap Moi declared the AIDS
epidemic a national disaster and announced that a National Aids Control Council would be
established. The government begun the campaign of ABC: Abstain, Be faithful, and use a
Condom
Some traditional HIV prevention strategies have tended to focus predominantly on
ABC: Abstain, Be faithful, use a Condom. While the ABC approach has undoubtedly
prevented large numbers of people from becoming infected, many of the worlds women
are simply not in a position to abstain from sex, rely on fidelity, or negotiate condom use.
ABC can only be a viable and effective prevention option for women and girls if it is
9
implemented as part of a multi-faceted package of interventions that seek to redress
deep-rooted gender imbalances.
This involves advocating for the empowerment of women and the promotion of women
and girls rights. Addressing current unequal gender norms that reduce young women
and girls ability to make informed choices about their own sexuality is key to reversing
the dramatic upward trend of HIV infection among young women and girls.
HIV TESTING
The Government of Kenya in collaboration with the Non-government Organization in 2000
encouraged the citizens to test their HIV status. This could help those who are infected to start
using protective measures like condoms, and also seek for medical attention. Besides they can
start planning for their families in case they are married. In 2000 there were only three voluntary
counseling and testing (VCT) sites nationwide; by 2007 there were almost 1000.
The government enhanced focus on testing has been reflected by the percentage of adults aged
15-49 years who report ever being tested for HIV. In 2003 only 15 percent had taken a test
compared to 37 percent in 2007. Action to improve access to testing facilities and a high-profile
media campaign that ran between 2002 and 2005 is thought to have contributed to the increase in
HIV testing uptake.
Increased testing rates have meant that record numbers of Kenyans have been tested in recent
years. In the year 2009, it is estimated that more than 4.4 million Kenyans aged 15 years and
10
over (approximately 1 in 4 of the adult population) received HIV testing and counseling. Accord ing to the 2009 Demographic and Health Survey, 73.5 percent of women and 58.6 percent of
men have been tested at least once.
However, increased rates of testing do not always accurately reflect an increased number of
people who know their status. This is because people might become infected after an earlier neg ative test, or may not have received the results. According to the 2007 Kenyan AIDS indicator
survey for example, almost two thirds of HIV infected people surveyed and who thought they
knew their status mistakenly thought they were HIV negative.
Often women will be afraid to disclose their status to their husbands because they are worried
they may be stigmatized, assaulted or thrown out of the family home. It has even been reported
that women fail to seek antenatal care from fear of their HIV status being disclosed during
routine HIV testing.
Men still believe that it is only women who can be a source of HIV in the family, and most of
them turn very violent on realizing their HIV status. P.49 Dr Aggrey Ouko Suba District
medical officer
CONDOM USE
The Kenyan government has only actively promoted condom use since 2001, when an estimated
12.8 percent of its population were infected with HIV. That year, the government announced its
intention to import 300 million condoms. Since then, condom distribution has been radically
scaled up; 10 million were distributed in 2004 and 124.5 million in 2008.
However, there have been a number of obstacles either preventing people from accessing con doms, or preventing people from wanting to use them. In particular, Kenyans have often received
11
conflicting messages about condom use. Many religious leaders have expressed opposition to
condom use, and in 2006 Kenyas First Lady said during a visit to some Kenyan schoolgirls:
I am not telling you to use condoms. I am not in favor of condoms. P. 55
Preliminary results from the 2008/2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey revealed that of
respondents who in the last 12 months had sex with two or more partners, only 32 percent of wo men and 37 percent of men reported using a condom. A 2011 study in Kilifi district, found that
only 1 percent of married couples regularly used condoms. Reports of people washing and re-us ing condoms, during condom shortages, indicates that more needs to be done to ensure people
have consistent access to condoms.
Female condom uptake has also been low, and in 2009 there was a reported shortage of female
condoms in public hospitals in Kenyas Coast Province. In the same year Kenyan officials
banned a brand of UK produced male condoms after tests revealed that some had leaked.
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
HIV and AIDS education is an essential part of HIV prevention. In Kenya AIDS education is
part of the curriculum in both primary and secondary schools, and for a number of years Kenya
has delivered educational campaigns to raise nationwide awareness of the issue. As a result,
awareness about HIV and AIDS in Kenya is high. In Kenyas national, population-based survey,
nearly all adults aged 15-64 had heard about AIDS, 90 percent knew that a healthy-looking per son could be infected with HIV and most knew how to reduce their chances of becoming infec ted with the virus. Awareness of the need to use condoms was high with 75 percent of women
and 81 percent of men in this age group aware that condoms reduce the risk of HIV infection.
However, one study of 21 primary and 9 secondary schools highlighted the difficulties in imple menting AIDS education in public schools. The reasons included; not enough time in the cur 12
riculum, a lack of teacher training and support, and reluctance by parents and the Ministry of
Education to talk openly about sex and condoms. One recommendation drawn from the study
was for the Ministry of Education to have a clearer policy on its stance on condoms.
PREVENTION MOTHER- TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION (PMTCT)
Since 2000 PMTCT efforts in Kenya have rapidly expanded. There are now more than 3,397
health facilities offering PMTCT services. In 2008 an estimated 65 percent of pregnant women
were tested for HIV and by 73 2009 percent of pregnant women living with HIV received
Vantiretroviral for preventing the transmission of HIV to their babies. However, only half of
HIV- exposed infants received ARVs for PMTCT in the same year.
Prevention services for pregnant women must continue to grow as HIV transmission from
mother-to-child is still high. For example, an estimated 1 in 4 babies born to HIV infected moth ers are infected and PMTCT services are still only available in half of the country's health facilit ies.
In 2009 there were approximately 22,259 new child infections, most of which were probably a
result of mother-to-child transmission. Taking into account these new infections there were an
estimated 184,052 children living with HIV in Kenya in 2009. It is believed these high rates ac count for the high infant mortality rate in Kenya.
In August 2009 the Kenyan government introduced the more effective combination therapy to
replace single-dose nevirapine to prevent mother-to-child transmission. The government also
emphasized the importance of male involvement in PMTCT programmes and in 2010 introduced
a Sh240 million campaign to encourage partner testing, exclusive breastfeeding and to deliver
antiretroviral treatment to more children who need it.
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MALE CIRCUMCISION
In light of substantial evidence showing that male circumcision significantly reduces a mans
risk of acquiring HIV during heterosexual intercourse, the Kenyan National AIDS/STD Control
Programme has developed a policy on male circumcision. The aim of the policy is to reduce the
number of new HIV infections in order to help create an AIDS free generation. Around
150,000 male circumcisions per year for five years will need to be performed in order for Kenya
to reach its target.
In many districts of Kenya circumcision is a cultural process. Voluntary medical male circum cision programmes were therefore concentrated in those districts which did not hold this tradi tion. Rates of circumcision increased from 10,000 to 90,000 in just over a year in 2009, which al though substantial, remains short of policy aims. Increasing circumcision among older, sexually
active men has been identified as critical if HIV infection is to be reduced among this age group.
HARM REDUCTION AND NEEDLE EXCHANGE SERVICES
HIV transmission through injecting drug use is a growing problem, particularly in the capital and
in coastal areas. HIV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) is thought to be as high as
43 percent, and up to 4 percent of all new infections are as a result of injecting drug use. Even
where IDUs in Kenya know how HIV can be transmitted, needle sharing and unprotected sex is
commonplace.
Although Kenyan drug laws and government policy have hindered the prevention of new infec tions among IDUs, there has been a recent change of view in the Kenyan government. This fol lows a similar turnaround by the American initiative PEPFAR (the largest foreign funder of HIV
and AIDS programmes in Kenya), which now supports a variety of harm reduction approaches to
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HIV prevention among IDUs.The 2009/10-2013/14 Kenyan Strategic Plan (KNASP III) high lights the need to prevent new infections among IDUs and to "seek innovative ways to reduce
HIV transmission".
If we want to talk about HIV prevention, then we cannot afford to ignore any groupWe want
to provide needle exchange, methadone for treatment and condoms
P.84
Nicholas Muraguri,
head of the National AIDS and STI Control Programme
5.0 METHODOLOGY
Questionnaires were distributed in various health facilities across Kenya and the subjects were
asked to confidentially fill in the information or answers as requested by the questionnaires ( See
Appendix 1). After two weeks, the questionnaires were picked and analyzed. The results were
then compiled and tabulated in this research study.
Research questions
1.
How many People come for Voluntary counseling and testing services in your health
Institution?
2.
What is the age of the people coming for VCT services in your health institution?
3.
What is the Number of female clients coming for VCT services in your health institution?
4.
What is the Number of male clients coming for VCT services in your health institution?
5.
What is the number of women that have tested Positive for HIV/AIDS Virus?
6.
What is the number of men that have tested Positive for HIV/AIDS Virus?
7.
What is the total number of men that have succumbed to HIV/AIDS related illnesses?
8.
What is the total number of women that have succumbed to HIV/AIDS related illnesses
The health costs spend on the treatment and care of these women cannot be underestimated. The
epidemic leaves the women in poor health, as their immune systems are forced to combat one
15
ailment after another. Treatment of ailments related with HIV/AIDS in Kenya is still a major
problem because of the inadequate medical facilities. Hospitals are far distances away and in
some cases, the affected women are forced to travel for at least half a day or more to reach any
nearest hospital or healthy facility. Reaching the hospital is no relief as getting a doctor or any
qualified medical practitioner is based on luck as the practitioners are in high demand and prefer
private practice that cannot be afforded by the average Kenyan women.
With time and money spent in searching for treatment of opportunistic diseases that are
associated with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, this leaves the Kenyan women poor than ever before.
The resources used to battle the disease would have been better spent on other important
activities such as buying food, taking the children to school, or engaging in useful economic
activities. As there are no ends for the cases of opportunistic diseases or infections in women
who are affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge, the money eventually runs out and with no useful
economic activities being taken to replenish the finances, the women patients are soon left in
destitution and poverty.
6.0 DATA ANALYSIS
16
The impact of the disease on womans family is a source of anti-social behavior such as
prostitution, robbery and other criminal activities. After the death of the main breadwinner,
which is the father, the womans family is left to fend for themselves. Most women in Kenya
are still housewives with no meaningful means of earning a living. It is no surprise that the only
option left to such women is prostitution. With prostitution comes the danger of either being
infected with the HIV virus if one was not already infected or re-infection if she was infected.
The woman has to bear the heartbreak of seeing her children become thugs and get involved in
criminal activities in addition to being left a widow. Drug use and peddling are just some of the
outlaw behaviors than soon befall the woman and her children as they seek ways to survive and
numb their pain (UNAIDS, 2010).
No less an impact on the woman is the stigma that is brought about by the HIV/AIDS scourge. In
fact it has been estimated that stigma is the single most psychological immobilizing effect of the
HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Kenyan society is a conservative society with deeply ingrained social
and religious opinions and mores. Any whiff of impropriety is enough to make a member of this
society to be demonized and turned into a pariah. With ignorance of the disease still prevalent
within the Kenyan society, being an HIV/AIDS victim is similar to being given the death
sentence.
The society especially shuns women known to be having HIV/AIDS and thus making them to be
vulnerable populations in most communities and societies in Kenya. In fact, in some
communities, the victims can even be killed for bringing shame to the family. It does not matter
that the husband may be the culprit who brought the virus home. Some communities believe the
epidemic is result of engaging in activities that are taboo to the community and thus that the
female victim has been justly punished. With no family support system, rejection, stigmatization
17
and discrimination, this a major cause why women deteriorate quickly from ailments related to
HIV/AIDS (UNGASS, 2008).
7.0 DISCUSSIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH
Women suffering from HIV/AIDS have the additional burden of taking care of the
children after their father dies. This legacy of the husband is an onerous burden to a weak person
who is barely able to cater for herself. The children are her responsibility and it is a lucky woman
indeed who is able to get assistance in the upkeep of her children. The physical and
psychological stress of the added burden of foraging for herself and her children usually cuts
shot these womens lives, a most psychologically torturous demise knowing one left the children
in the abyss of suffering.
There is however no clear method or research methodology that can be used to ascertain
the number of women who are exactly infected by the HIV/AIDS in Kenya. This is because most
of the reported cases are based on statistics obtained from hospitals for women who have been
tested. There may be some other unreported cases of HIV/AIDS cases among the women
because few of them have undergone the voluntary tests to ascertain whether they have the virus
or not. Thus the number of cases of women infected by the HIV/AIDS scourge recorded in this
study may not be exact or genuine. Genuine statistics can only be obtained in cases where all
Kenyan women were tested, a task which is difficult to undertake.
Women in Kenya are especially vulnerable due various reasons. Kenya, being a
patriarchal society, makes women to have no major voice in decision-making. Coupled with the
oppression of women and being treated as inferior, women have no means to decide their
destiny. In matters of sex which is the major avenue of Aids/HIV transmission, they have no say
in deciding ways to protect themselves. The use of protection and decision to use protection such
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as condom are solely left in the hands of the men thus making women to be easily exposed
towards the pandemic (HIV/AIDS). Whether the woman feels the need to protect herself from
infection would not matter as the ultimate decision lies with the man.
Thus the women are at a greater risk from their husbands as the men would never use a
condom with their wives even if they know they are infected. As research has shown, most
clients who visit prostitute or commercial sex workers are married men. No wonder even
women who are faithful to their husbands still fall victim rendering the much vaunted protection
principle against AIDS, ABC, (Abstinence, Being faithful to one partner and using a Condom) a
cold solace to Kenyan women. Some husbands happen to be polygamous, inject drugs, are closet
homosexuals who do not use any protection and thus infect their wives when they go back to
their houses.
Due to their biological make up, women are at a greater risk from HIV/AIDS disease.
The reproductive organs of women are more vulnerable to the disease because of lesions or
abrasions by the male reproductive organ during sexual intercourse but especially through forced
entry. This vulnerability is acute as it makes it easier for male to female transmission to occur
than female to male transmission. In addition, the male protection such as condoms is easy to use
on the male organ as compared to female protective devices such as female condom.
Rape case and sexual violence is prevalent in the Kenyan society. Domestic violence and
intimidation of women leads to rapes and sexual violence that perpetuates the increased number
of women HIV/AIDS victims. In a society, that still tolerates the beating of women; the notion
that a woman can control her sexuality and protect herself from sexual transmitted diseases is
alien. The woman in Kenya hence is trapped and powerless to protect herself against the
HIV/AIDS epidemic (Piano, 2009: p.390).
19
The social and economic inequalities rife in Kenyan society as regards the position of women in
relation to men contribute to disproportionate victims of HIV/AIDS victims being women.
Economic and social oppression reduces their access to quality education, their employment
skills are non-existent thus the likelihood of them being economically able to take care of
themselves is nil and the only option left is to depend on their male counterparts. With secondclass status in the society, their fate is sealed with their male partners. That is one of the major
reasons women marry at a young age especially in the rural areas making themselves more
vulnerable to the virus as their reproductive organ is not fully developed and more prone to
injury thus susceptible to the infection of HIV/AIDS. Alternatively, women will resort to
prostitution or commercial sex work to make ends meet further exposing themselves to dangers
of contracting HIV/AIDS (UNGASS, 2010).
Social and economic subjugation of the woman in Kenya has other repercussions. By
limiting the access to education, it encourages ignorance that is at the heart of the spread of
HIV/AIDS scourge. Ignorance and illiteracy among the rural folks of Kenya has been quoted as a
major reason for the fast spread of the disease among women. The women cannot access
information on HIV/AIDS or use of protection hence encouraging myths, rumors and half-truths
that lead to their deaths from the epidemic. Further this alienation continues after the death of
their husbands as they cannot inherit the property of their dead husbands. The widow is left
penniless with hungry children to feed in addition to the virus that is the only legacy of the
husband. Indeed, in some communities, it is the right of the husbands male relatives to decide
who is going to inherit the widow, a further risk as usually the privilege of wife inheritance falls
on the male relative with many wives as he seen to be prosperous and able to take care of an
additional wife.
20
Women face an uphill task in their fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Kenya. Traditional
prejudices that limit women or leave them powerless control their destinies. Male Chauvinism is
a major hindrance to the liberation of women in terms of deciding on their sexuality and control
over their bodies. This oppression creates a feeling of powerlessness that renders women passive
in the face of dangers posed by HIV/AIDS. Societal poor assessment of women has denied them
the access to basic and quality education that can help them better their lives. This denies them
an opportunity to earn a living and become worthwhile members of the society (AIDS
Newsletter, 1986).
Laws that still discriminate against women hamper the womens fight against this
epidemic (HIV/AIDS). Laws limiting their rights to divorce their abusive husbands and still get
their childrens upkeeps from their husband fail to protect women from sexual and domestic
violence. Laws limiting the womens right to inherit their husbands property and such like laws
are detrimental in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic indirectly as the do not empower
the woman to exercise their rights in other sectors such as reproductive right.
The other challenge is the lack of participation by the society and government in
articulating the issues affecting women especially women reproductive health. In addition,
provision of health facilities to women is wanting. Opportunistic diseases that can easily be
treated are left to decimate women suffering from the epidemic because the government has not
seen it fit to formulate health policies that promote womens health. Other policies promoting
the issues of women and the girl child have not been given priority (AIDS Newsletter, 1987).
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8.0 Conclusion
There is light at the end of a gloomy tunnel. Recent measures undertaken by the Kenyan
government in conjunction with various international organizations and agencies has changed the
environment surrounding the care of the Women suffering from HIV/AIDS and the female
gender in general. From provision of free ARV (antiretroviral) drugs to formulation of policies to
combat this epidemic specially targeted at the women. Major educative and sensitization
activities are also being undertaken to reduce the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among the
Kenyan women.
References
UNAIDS (2010) 'UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic'
UNGASS (2010) 'Country progress report - Kenya'
UNGASS (2008) Country progress report Kenya
WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF (2010) 'Towards universal access: Scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions
in the health sector the country- Progress Report 2010'
AIDS Newsletter (1986) AIDS in Kenya, Item 265, 31st July
AIDS Newsletter (1986) Facts and figures from the Paris conference, Item 249, 8th July
AIDS Newsletter (1987) Military service in Kenya: AIDS risk, Item 14, 15th January
Piano, Aili. 2009. Freedom in the World 2009: The Annual Survey of Political Rights & Civil
Liberties. P. 391.
IRIN(2008,22ndOctober)Kenya:FearofHIVtestingkeepspregnantwomenathome
P. 49
LifeSiteNews.com(2006,23rdMay)KenyaFirstLady:CondomiscausingthespreadofAIDSinthiscountry
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NationalAIDSControlCouncilKenyaNationalHIVandAIDSStrategicPlan2009/102012/13
APPENDIX 1 (QUESTIONNAIRE)
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P.84
P.
Questionnaire No __________
Date: Day __ Month ___ Year ___
Women in the Face of Aids/HIV Epidemics in Kenya
Pretest for women - 15-45 years of age
County: _____________________________
Residence: _____________________________
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING
OR COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRE.
This questionnaire is designed to gather information that will help in educating women on how
to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. Participation to this survey is voluntary and you will answer
questions concerning yourself, ideas, attitudes, and behavior regarding HIV/AIDS prevention.
Kindly indicate by an X if you accept to complete this questionnaire
I refuse to complete the questionnaire ____
I accept to voluntarily complete this questionnaire ______
Respondents name
Name ________________________
Signature _____________________
Date _________________________
1.0. How old are you? _____________________
2.0. Are you employed? _____________________
3.0. What is your highest verifiable qualification? _____________________
4.0. Are you married? _____________________
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5.0. How many children do you have? _____________________
6.0. Have you gone for HIV/AIDS testing? _____________________
7.0. Has anyone in your family gone for HIV/AIDS testing _____________________
8.0. In the last four months, have you heard anything about HIV/AIDS either on radio or TV?
_____________________
a) Where do you get information concerning aids?
b) Government health facilities_____
c) Private healthcare___
d) Community health workers ___
e) Relatives ___
f) Friends ___
g) radio___
h) others specify___
9.0. In your opinion, what do you think causes HIV/AIDS? _____________________
10.0. If married have you discussed this disease with your spouse? _____________________
11.0. If someone has HIV/AIDS do you think they should keep it private?
_____________________
12.0. Please explain your answer_____________________
13.0. What do you think should be done to avoid the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus?
_____________________
14.0. Have you attended any workshop on HIV/AIDS? _____________________
15.0. What are your chances of contracting the virus?: _____________________
a)
High
b)
Medium
c)
Low
16.0. In you opinion, what challenges do you think women face as far as HIV/AIDS is
concerned? _____________________
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17.0. What do you think should be done to overcome the challenges? _____________________
THANK-YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE.
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