Socio- economic factors influencing welfare of hiv-positive women in Manyatta slums, Kisumu County

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have been in existence for more than forty years and women account for nearly half of the 40 million People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). HIV/AIDS has devastating challenges on the infected women, and it is worse if they are staying in the slums. HIV/AIDS has economic implications on the infected and her family. Earlier studies done in Kenya have largely concentrated on transmission and prevention of HIV. However, there are limited studies that have been conducted on socio-economic challenges faced by women living with HIV in slums especially those living in Manyatta slums, more detailed information is required on low income earning women living with HIV and how socio-cultural and economic challenges affect them. The study aimed to determine the socio-cultural and economic factors affecting welfare of HIV-positive women in Manyatta slums, Kisumu County. The specific objectives included; determining the socio-cultural challenges of women living with HIV, assessing the economic situation of women living with HIV as well as examining access to services by women living with HIV in Manyatta Slums, Kisumu County. The study used descriptive research design and out of the target a population of 1100 women living with HIV in Manyatta slums, 110 were sampled using purposive sampling technique. The respondents who included key informants were served with questionnaires for quantitative data, while Focus Group Discussion were used for qualitative data. The Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics being facilitated by the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for windows. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings of the study are; statistical significance in understanding socio- cultural and economic factors that affect WLWHA, most of the women living with HIV-Positive reached only primary school (80.9%), age of 26-30years (43.6%), too high cost of transport to health facilities (mean of 3.48) and nutrition cost was too high as well. The findings of this study illuminate the socio-cultural and economic factors that hinder adherence to ART among WLWHA. The findings of this study would be useful to the guidance and counselling professionals for the improvement of their helping relationship with women living with HIV-Positive.