Psychological and Socio-Economic Impact of HIV&AIDs on People Living with Aids:A Case of Mukurweini Division, Nyeri District, Kenya

Abstract

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has devastating social. economic and psychological impact on people infected and affected. In order to minimize the ellects of the disease in the society, people infected and living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to accept their status and live positively by seeking counselling services. This help in minimizing and even overcoming psychological and socio-economic impact associated with the disease. The purpose of this study was to find the psychological and s0ci0—economic impact of HIV/ AIDS on people living with AIDS in Mukurwe-ini division of Nyeri district, Kenya. This study adopted an ex post fizclo research design. The target population included 600 people identified and living positively with HIV/AIDS in six administrative locations. and afiiliated to Community Based Organizations in the division. A proportional sample size of 158 respondents was selected from the six administrative locations. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the selected respondents. The collected data was then processed and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version ll.5 for windows. The study findings indicated that more than a halliofthe people living with HIV/AIDS suffered low level of psychological impact of the disease. Majority of the people living with HIV/AIDS sulTcrcd high level of socio-economic impact of the disease. There was no significant gender difference in the psychological impact of HIV/AIDS between female and male people living with HIV/AIDS. There was no significant gender dilference in the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS between female and male people living with HIV/AIDS. The study recommends that there is need for all people living with HIV/AIDS to have access to counselling services so as to ke able to develop positive behaviour change and reduce the impact of l{lV/AIDS. There is need for the society to change its attitudes toward lllV/AIDS and demystify the social stigma associated with the disease and instead take care and assist people living with HIV/AIDS. There is need for increased level of sensitization and awareness canipaigns to assist in reducing stigmatization and the negative attitudes and perceptions about people living with HIV/AIDS -' Vt