To develop A christian HIV/AIDS management program for Homa Bay County, Kenya
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that has and continues to adversely impact the
quality of life of not only the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Homa
Bay County, but of the community in general. Its negative impact touches the social,
economic, political, and demographic fabric of society. It is robbing the Adventist
Church and society in general of requisite human resource through death and
sickness, and is adversely challenging the church’s competencies to effectively
engage in its mission.
The researcher used a questionnaire to evaluate the situation beforehand and
then effectiveness of the program. Basically the objectives were met to an acceptable
level.There was significant growth in the level of knowledge about the facts and
issues of HIV/AIDS among the participating members of the Churches in Homa Bay
County from 88% to 99%. Again, those indicating that they are now highly
knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS climbed from 40% at the beginning of the project to
56% at its close. There was also significant change of attitude towards people living
with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) with about eight percent of the participants still holding
the view that PLWHA are to blame for bringing the disease upon themselves down
from about 16% in June 2013. There was evidence of behavior change with an
average of 22% of the participants still indicating engagement in at risk behavior
down from an average of 28% at the beginning of the project. An overwhelming 94%
of the participants agreed that this program can be very effective in HIV/AIDS
mitigation.
Conclusion: A biblical HIV/AIDS mitigation strategy is a very effective method for
fighting the HIV/AIDS scourge. It is simple in its approach and easy to implement.
Agencies involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS can use this approach with very
positive results